GREENSBURG, IN — The Greensburg Optimist Club awarded the 2021 Firefighter of the Year jointly to all Decatur County fire chiefs and firefighters during the organization’s meeting Thursday morning at the city’s firehouse.
Greensburg Assistant Fire Chief and Optimist Club Firefighter of the Year Chairman Brian Wenning says the organization chose to recognize all of the departments in the county in honor of the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in which 343 New York City firefighters died responding to the World Trade Center.
The club also recognized all county fire chiefs and firefighters 10 years ago.
Among those present to accept on behalf of their respective departments were: Burney Fire Chief Justin Israel, Clarksburg assistant chief Greg Geis (accepting on behalf of Chief Brad Speer), Greensburg Fire Chief Nathan Stoermer, Millhousen/Marion Township Fire Chief Matt Stone, New Point Fire Chief Matt Stone, and Westport Fire Chief Jay Mattox.
Those who were not able to attend were Speer, Adams Fire Chief Craig Jones, Letts Chief Matt Morrow, and St. Paul Chief Heath Dillon.
The Firefighter of the Year typically receives a plaque, but the Optimist Club this year decided instead to donate $200 to each department.
The Greensburg Optimist Club first handed out its Firefighter of the Year award in 1996. Past recipients are as follows:
1996 Don Minning, Greensburg
1997 Carl Geis, Clarksburg
1998 Ken Ramer, Greensburg
1999 Brian Wenning, Greensburg
2000 David Israel, Burney
2001 All Decatur County Fire Chiefs/Firefighters
2002 Mike Gasper, Westport
2003 Rand Hooten, Burney
2004 Scott Chasteen, Greensburg
2005 Bert Baltus (posthumously), Letts
2006 Bill Smith, Clarksburg
2007 Gary Wolford, New Point
2008 Andy Witkemper, Millhousen
2009 Jay Mattox, Westport
2010 Rick Bullard, St. Paul
2011 All Decatur County Fire Chiefs/Firefighters
2012 Rick Emsweller, Greensburg
2013 Brad Speer, Clarksburg
2014 Steve Garrett, Greensburg
2015 Randy Carson, Westport
2016 Carl Geis, Clarksburg
2017 Byron Baltus, Letts
2018 Rick Johnson, Clarksburg
2019 Randy & Marilyn Hoeing, Greensburg
2020 Matt Stone, Millhousen
