The Annual Awards Ceremony - 1998

Thursday October 15, 1998 the Shreveport Fire Department and Shreveport Fire Fighters Association conducted the Annual Awards Banquet. Jan Elkins, Health Reporter for KTBS in Shreveport, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies. The banquet is funded by local merchants and community persons desiring to support the efforts of the Fire Fighters. Each year funds are raised by a consortium of fire fighters, spouses, and local citizens known as Friends of Shreveport Fire Department. Anyone can participate by contacting the Fire Department Chaplain, J. Durell Tubeville, at 673-6635.

Those receiving awards were:

Citizen's Award of Merit: For outstanding support of the Fire Service.

  1. Ms. Jeanne Jackson - local citizen who contributes to the education and prevention divisions of the department. Her contributions helped purchase visual aid equipment to educate children in fire safety.

  2. Quality Manufacturing - The company who has manufactured 26 apparatus, including pumpers, aerials, and rescue trucks for our local department. Quality went to extremes to ensure professionalism and customer service to our Fire Department's maintenance division.

  3. Signal 51 - Signal 51 is a local group of citizens who have supported the fire fighters for 29 years. This group assists at emergency scenes with food, water, and encouragement regardless of location, time, or weather. They have faithfully supported the fire fighters for almost three decades.

Fire Fighters Merit Awards: For outstanding accomplishment in professional skill.

  1. Philip Hashieder - Accomplishment of Emergency Vehicle Technician level II in a short two year span. Philip has demonstrated expertise in operations and maintenance of fire service apparatus.

  2. Kenny Wheeler - achieved his Emergency Vehicle Technical level III in two years of preparation. This is the highest level awarded by the Association of Emergency Vehicle Technicians. Outstanding accomplishment by these two individuals places them among the elite of service technicians of emergency response equipment in the nation.

  3. Kenny Shepherd - Captain Shepherd has demonstrated leadership in serving as a field training captain of new recruits. His leadership in the field through drills and actual fire fighting has proven critical in the development of our new personnel in the application of fire fighting principles and skill development.

Team Performance Award:

  • This year Engine 8 "B" Shift demonstrated exceptional performance in fire fighting when overtaken by a flashover while entering a house fire. The members of this crew were engulfed in flame themselves. They extinguished one another then proceeded to re-enter the house and terminate the blaze before support companies could arrive. This demonstration of professional dedication as well as team congruency is commendable to; Captain Jack Allen, Driver Scott Calvert, and Fire Fighter Wynn Hutto.

Award of Valor - Presented for acts of extreme heroism.

  • Fire Inspector/Paramedic Chris Robinson, encountered a Motor vehicle accident while driving to his next assignment. There Chris evaluated a patient in a overturned vehicle, extricated the patient, secured the airway and began direct pressure on an amputated arm. Chris maintained the patient until fire department EMS units could arrive and successfully transport the patient to emergency room facilities.

Fire Fighter of the Year

  • This is awarded to the selected personnel who has demonstrated devotion and loyalty to the work of the Fire Service throughout the award year with obvious efforts above and beyond the call of duty. This year's recipient was Fire Driver/Paramedic Bob Debusk.

Fire Chief's Award

  • This is the highest award presented by the Shreveport Fire Department. This award is presented by the Fire Chief for obvious act of bravery or heroism by which the member demonstrates selflessness, courage, and heroism above and beyond the call of duty under adverse conditions, with the possibility of extreme personal risk. this year's award was presented to Captain Barry Lewis for his life saving efforts in rescuing a victim from a fully involved structure.

The Shreveport Fire Fighters Association awarded:

Twenty year pins to:

  • Captain Gary Hathorn; Captain Dean Cooper; Captain Tommy Adams; Captain Mike House; Captain Karl Mann; and Captain Bob Dotson.

Gold Watches to retirees:

  • Posthumously - Assistant Chief Willie Lewis.

  • District Chief Samuel Gutherie; District Chief Joe Wagoner; District Chief James Branim; Captain Johnny Hammons; District Chief Steve Pinkley; District Chief Charles Knox; District Chief Terry Martin; District Chief Bobby Cannon; District Chief James Schwartz; Captain Francis Lafitte; District Chief Mike Johnson; Captain John McGee; and District Chief Mike King.


Citizen's Award of Merit
 presented to the
Signal 51 Group