Gelbaugh Honored As Fireman Of The Year

An emotional thank you followed the announcement Thursday night of Kosciusko County's Fireman of the Year.

Roger Gelbaugh, chief of the Winona Lake Fire Department, was overwhelmed by the honor. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you," Gelbaugh told the gathering of firefighters.

The Fireman of the Year award is presented annually during the Kosciusko County Firemen's Association fish fry and banquet. All 14 departments from within the county, as well as four fire departments from neighboring counties, were represented at the 54th annual event.

Gelbaugh was nominated by members of his department. After the banquet, Gelbaugh accepted bear hugs and noogies of congratulations from fellow firefighters.

Gelbaugh joined the Winona Lake Fire Department in 1971 and served as lieutenant, captain and assistant chief prior to being named chief in 1991. Gelbaugh also has been the training officer for the WLFD and set up the fire prevention program for local schools.

More recently, Gelbaugh worked with the Winona Lake Town Council on the purchase of a new fire truck and helped organized a fire wives auxiliary.

He is a past recipient of the Winona Lake Firefighter of the Year award.

Also presented Thursday was the service award. The 1998 winner and banquet emcee, Bruce Howe of the WLFD, presented the award to the 1999 winner, Duane Sells of the Silver Lake Fire Department.

Sells is a 42-year member of the SLFD and has served as tanker driver, captain, assistant chief and chief. In accepting his award, Sells thanked his department and the KCFA. "I appreciate this organization," he said. "This is where we've received a lot of our training in years gone by."

The Attendance Award, which is based on the number of firefighters attending KCFA meetings throughout the year, went to the Leesburg Fire Department.

Accepting the clock award on behalf of the department, Larry Kammerer noted that this is the third consecutive year for Leesburg to win the award. "I'd like to issue a challenge for another department to beat us out of this clock," Kammerer said.

Officers of the Kosciusko County Firemen's Association are Mitch Rader, Leesburg Fire Department, president; Larry Neher, Claypool Fire Department, vice president; Kerry Stogsdill, Warsaw Fire Department, secretary; and Mike Blair, Atwood Fire Department, treasurer.