The Vigilant Hose Company held its Award and Recognition program on January 8, 2022, at the Vigilant Hose Activities Building in Emmitsburg. The welcome and presentation were given by Tim Clarke, board of director member.
A moment of silence was held for the members who passed away in the years 2020 and 2021: Bo Cadle, Jimmy A. Glass, Earl Harrington, Mary Jean Orndorff, Gary G. Glass, and Patrick Boyle.
Tim Clarke performed the installation of officers for 2022. Administrative Officers: President– Thomas Ward, Vice President– Douglas Wivell, Treasurer–Steven M. Hollinger, Assistant Treasurer– William Boyd, Jr., Secretary–Pam Ellison, Assistant Secretary–Sharon Keeney, Board of Director Members–Pam Bolin, Tim Clarke, Kenny Clevenger, Mary Lou Little, Scott Maly, Randy Myers, Douglas Orner, Cliff Shriner, Dave Zentz; Chaplain– Pastor Heath Wilson.
Line Officers: Chief–Chad Umbel, Deputy Chief–Jim Click, Assistant Chief–Joshua Brotherton, Captain–Matthew Boyd, Lieutenants–Alex McKenna, Doug Yingling, Dave Zentz, and Josh Kehne, and EMS Captain–Frank Davis.
Fire Police: Captain–Jim Barto, 1st Lieutenant–Steve Orndorff, and 2nd Lieutenant–Sam Cool.
Auxiliary Officers: President–Patty Kuykendall, Vice President–Sharel Boyle, Treasurer–Jo Ann Boyd, Secretary–Joyce Glass, Financial Secretary–Tina Ryder, and Co-Historians–Helen Topper and Diana Hoover.
Review of 2020 Awards
A program was not held in 2021 due to COVID; 2020 awards were reviewed: the 2020 Hall of Fame Award was presented to Gabe Baker, the Chief’s Award was presented to the DFRS Career staff who were working at Station 6 at the time of the award (Scott Johnson, Brian Hames, Matt Hughes, Chad Owens, Mitch Krysiak, and Alex Carnathan), President’s Award–Scott Maly, Member of the Year Award–Steve Hollinger, Training Award for 2020–Josh Kehne, Driver of the Year Award–Randy Myers.
2020 Years of Service Awards were presented to: 5 Years–Brandon Murdorf and Dave Zentz; 10 Years–Tyler Bennett, Josh Brotherton, Dale Fogle, Jennifer Stahley, and Tom Ward; 25 Years (life member)–John Damskey, Tom Vaughn, and Mike Working; 30 Years–Bill Boyd and Ed Little; 35 Years–Carl White; 40 Years–Wayne Powell; and 50 Years–Monroe Hewitt.
The Ten Top Fire Responders for 2020 were: Matt Boyd (10th), Alex McKenna (9th), Josh Brotherton (8th), Charlie Rustigan (7th), Matt LeGare (6th), Josh Kehne (5th), Cliff Shriner (4th), Dave Zentz (3rd), Frank Davis (2nd), Jim Click (1st).
The Five Top EMS Responders for 2020 were: Tom Ward (5th), Josh Brotherton (4th), Patrick O’Hanlon (3rd), Dave Zentz (2nd), and Frank Davis (1st).
The Three Top Fire Police Responders for 2020 were: Lynn Orndorff (3rd), Steve Orndorff (2nd), and Sam Cool (1st).
2021 Awards
Length of Service Awards were presented for 5 Years–Diane Beall, Ashley Grimes, Sharon Keeney, atthew LeGare, Franklyn Schmersal, Bradford Shugart, and Colton Stahley; 10 Years–Ryan Bolger, Gene Fauble, Patrick Reaver, Derek Rosensteel, Gregory Sterner, II, Shawn Wetzel, and Doug Yingling; 20 Years–Chris Ryder; 30 Years–Frank Rauschenberg; 35 Years–John Glass; 40 Years–Hugh Boyle and Steven Hollinger; 45 Years–Herbert Click, Jr.; 50 Years–Larry Glass; 55 Years–Michael Orndorff and Roland Sanders; and 80 Years–Tom Hoke.
The Top Ten Fire Responders for 2021 were: Elizabeth Beaton (10th-133 calls), (three way tie 7th) Matt LeGare (173 calls), Doug Yingling (173 calls), Dave Zentz (173 calls), Matt Boyd (6th-196 calls), Josh Brotherton (5th-199 calls), Cliff Shriner (4th-275 calls), Jim Click (3rd-280 calls), Frank Davis (2nd-298 calls), and the Top Responder for 2021 was Charlie Rustigian (353 calls).
The Five Top EMS Responders for 2021 were: Patrick O’Hanlon (5th-16 calls), Dave Zentz (4th-21 calls), Chris McKenna (3rd-24 calls, Josh Brotherton (2nd-34 calls), and the Top Responder for 2021 was Frank Davis (72 calls).
The Three Top Fire Police Responders were: Jim Barto (3rd-80 calls), Sam Cool (2nd-101 calls), and the Top Responder for 2021 was Steve Orndorff (103 calls).
The Training Award for 2021 was presented to an individual who attended the most hours of in-house training and training conducted outside the VHC. The training award was presented to Nicky Burriss.
Honorary membership was extended to Larry Carty.
The 2021 President’s Award was presented to Josh Brotherton. Brotherton was described as, “Both younger and senior members look to him as a role model for his calm, cool demeanor and continually expanding knowledge base that he devoutly shares with others to improve their own skillset.”
The Chief’s Award was presented to Jim Barto. Barto “…performs [his] fire service duties in a manner that exemplifies the competency that reflect the highest standards of the fire service and regularly demonstrates the ability to lead or follow based on the existing circumstances.”
Member of the Year was Matt Boyd. Boyd was described as, “Someone who has been a member of this organization—pretty much since birth! …He took the lead role on the fire station maintenance efforts this past year on top of his line officer role.”
The Hall of Fame award is the Company’s highest award. It is presented to those who have made lasting contributions to the department, the community, and the region. The 2021 Hall of Fame recipient was Frank Rauschenberg.
Tim Clarke performs the Installation of Officers of the Vigilant Hose Company for 2022. Pictured from left are Ed Little, Cliff Shriner, Scott Maly, Kenny Clevenger, Pam Bolin, Mary Lou Little, Sharon Keeney, Pam Ellison, Bill Boyd, Steve Hollinger, Tom Ward, Tina Ryder, Tim Clarke, Chad Umbel, Jim Click, Josh Brotherton, Matt Boyd, Alex McKenna, Doug Yingling, Josh Kehne, Frank Davis, Steve Orndorff, Sam Cool, Sharel Boyle, Jo Ann Boyd, Mary Ann Wivell, and Diana Hoover.
2021 Top Fire Responders are pictured from left: Chief Chad Umbel, Elizabeth Beaton, Matt LeGare, Doug Yingling, Matt Boyd, Josh Brotherton, Cliff Shriner, Jim Click, Frank Davis, Charles Rustigian, and President Tom Ward.
Photos by Deb Abraham Spalding
