ATWOOD – There have been firefighters from Atwood who won awards before, but as long as Fire Chief Mike Harmon can remember no department has taken home both of the major awards in Kosciusko County in the same year.
This year though, that is exactly what the Atwood Fire Department did.
At the annual Kosciusko County Firefighters Fish Fry and Banquet, Sept. 20, Raymond Truex and Scott Shepherd took home the Kosciusko County Fireman’s Service and the Kosciusko County Fireman of the Year awards respectively.
Last year Harmon put Truex’s and Shepherd’s names in the mix to be recognized for their hard work and dedication for the department. Both men were not selected, but the letters on their behalf were good for two years. Harmon and a few other Atwood firefighters nominated the two candidates.
“We nominated them because of the things they have done the last couple years,” Harmon said. “Raymond has been on the fire department for 40 years and I thought it was time we showed some appreciation.
“Both are very dedicated,” Harmon said. “That’s what you need.”
The Fireman’s Service Award is an award given to a firefighter in Kosciusko County based on how long they have been a firefighter, how active in the department they are and how much they help the department.
When Truex joined the Atwood Fire Department he was working in fields and was fortunate enough to be able to help the community.
“The farmer I was helping was on the department and I ran out to fires with them,” Truex said. “Mike (Harmon) was on the department and we were friends. The whole community was a part of the fire department then.”
Over the 40 years Truex has been on the department he has been known for his dedication.
“Whenever I can I show up for calls, I do. I am fortunate that the company I work for supports the fire department very well. Leaving from work to go to a fire has never been a problem,” Truex said.
At the banquet a fellow firefighter had asked him to come help set up the banquet hall, knowing that Truex would show up to help someone out. Little did Truex know that was how firefighters made sure he would be in attendance to accept his award.
“The award really surprised me,” Truex said. “The guys are easy to work with. We don’t always agree, but we go home friends and come back for the next one.”
“When they were reading my letter I was looking around to see who got out of the service when I did, who else got out in 1971,” Truex said. “After that I realized that I had won the award.”
Truex looked back on his 40 years of service and said his inspiration came from helping the community.
“There are times that the job is frustrating and there are times that you feel good about yourself,” Truex said. “There is always somebody that needs something. You just help the community. I will be doing this until the day they tell me I cant do it anymore.”
Shepherd has been on the Atwood Fire Deparment for the last 11 or 12 years and currently holds the position of captain. Both Truex and Shepherd have been the captain of the Atwood Fire Department over the years.
For Shepherd, being a firefighter is in the family genes.
“My dad has been on the Mentone Fire Department for 40 plus years and I have grown up around fire departments,” said Shepherd. “My brother is on the Akron Fire Department.”
In the time that Shepherd has been with the Atwood Fire Department he has helped purchase three fire trucks, serviced all the vehicle regularly and trained new firefighters.
“A lot of things are high-dollar items in the department,” Harmon said. “Scott (Shepherd) put in a lot of hours, a lot of meetings and a lot of nights together to find us the best price on our equipment.”
Harmon estimated that Shepherd put in 60 to 70 hours for each truck that they purchased. Additionally Shepherd services the trucks at least once a month and makes sure that everything is running well.
For Shepherd he is not as lucky as Truex to have an employer who will let him leave work for calls. This limits his time with the department to the early morning hours, after work and on weekends.
Even with the hours that Shepherd works Harmon refers to him as a dedicated and active member of the department.
Shepherd enjoys serving the community and working with his fellow firefighters.
“I enjoy being with the guys,” Shepherd said. “Some stuff is alright to go to and some stuff is not. It is really about serving the community.”
