February 3, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
Smithville Volunteer Firefighter and Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale received the “Highest Attendance Award” Friday night during an appreciation dinner for city firefighters at the Smithville First United Methodist Christian Fellowship Center.
The award was presented to Hale by Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker. This is the fourth straight year Hale has earned this award.
Hale, a 33 year veteran of the department, attended 252 calls during the year 2017. This includes calls, trainings, and workings.
“This award really shows his dedication to the department and to the city. He gets up at two o’clock in the morning to do these things and it really makes a difference. Having responded to 252 calls last year, that tells you how much he is committed to what he does at the Smithville Fire Department,” said Chief Parker.
Other firefighters with high attendance responses to their credit were Lieutenant Donnie Cantrell with 232, Lieutenant John Poss and Lieutenant Danny Poss each with 218 and Garrett Johnson with 184 calls.
Chief Parker also presented an award to former Smithville Volunteer Firefighter and local businessman Walter Burton, who served for 25 years on the department starting in 1972.
Members of the department also got a special treat when Chief Parker announced that the new fire truck had arrived. After the dinner, firefighters and others had a chance to see the new truck for the first time as it was brought in and parked in front of the building. This new Pierce Impel PUC Rescue Pumper is a combination fire engine/rescue vehicle.
In his remarks during the dinner, Chief Parker thanked the mayor and aldermen for their support and highlighted achievements during the past year.
“Our new year resolution was to connect with other fire departments to actively work, train, and assist them if we needed to. I think 2017 was a very good start. We now have quarterly meetings with the Alexandria and DeKalb County Fire Departments. Our officers meet quarterly. We’re doing some joint trainings. We’ve already had one joint training exercise and we have another one planned this spring. I think this is very good. We have a good working relationship with them and we hope to improve that. We’re also involved in the Upper Cumberland Fire Chief’s Association. I think that is proving very beneficial to us too. We’ll be hosting the April meeting of the Upper Cumberland Fire Chief’s Association,” said Chief Parker..
“In January we purchased the new fire truck and this is going to be a big accomplishment for us and it seems appropriate that we got to buy the new fire truck in our 80th year. 80 years ago Saturday, February 3 the city council passed ordinance # 92 to form the Smithville Fire Department. In doing that they appointed Mr. Bethel Thomas as Chief and Freddie Tramel as Assistant Chief. Bob Herndon was the Captain. They appointed 22 businessmen to become the Smithville Fire Department. That’s what it was back then. It was made up of businessmen who wanted to do something to help their neighbors. I think we have come a long way in those 80 years,” added Chief Parker.
Meanwhile city firefighters were recognized for years of service including the following:
Caleb London-1 year
Ryan Herron: 2 years
Garrett Johnson: 2 years
Seth Wright-2 years
Kim Johnson-2 years
Robin Summers-2 years
Bradley Johnson- 4 years
Dalton Roberts-4 years
C.J. Tramel- 4 years
Shawn Jacobs-5 years
Becky Atnip- 5 years
Cory Killian-7 years
Glen Lattimore-10 years
Stephanee Wright-12 years
Gary Johnson-13 years
James Randall Hunt-13 years
Wallace Caldwell- Chaplain 14 years
Lieutenant Kevin Adcock- 19 years
William (Wink) Brown-20 years
Greg Bess-photographer 23 years
Lieutenant John Poss-27 years
Captain Jeff Wright-32 years
Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale-33 years
Lieutenant Donnie Cantrell-38 years
Lieutenant Danny Poss-38 years
Chief Charlie Parker-38 years
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