FVFD hands out annual awards

Published 10:38 am Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Three Farmville volunteer firefighters received high honors during a special banquet Saturday night at the Farmville Municipal Golf Course. The department recognized Julie Bailey, Patrick Eason and Ronald Shult for their dedication and outstanding service to the Farmville Volunteer Fire Department (FVFD) and their fellow firefighters.

Bailey received the Most Dedicated Award, an honor bestowed directly by Chief Andrew Goss.

“Every year, I pick someone who’s shown great dedication to better themselves and the department,” Goss said. “Julie attends all the training, answers most calls, participates in exercises and helps fundraise.”

RHONDA FINCH | HERALD Farmville Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Julie Bailey accepts the Most Dedicated Award during the department’s annual banquet at the Farmville Municipal Golf Course on Saturday evening. Presenting her with the award are Chief Andrew Goss, left, and First Assistant Chief Dean Farmer.

RHONDA FINCH | HERALD
Farmville Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Julie Bailey accepts the Most Dedicated Award during the department’s annual banquet at the Farmville Municipal Golf Course on Saturday evening. Presenting her with the award are Chief Andrew Goss, left, and First Assistant Chief Dean Farmer.

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Eason and Shult are both this year’s FVFD Firefighter of the Year.

“This is voted on by the department membership and this is the first time I can recall there being a dead tie,” Goss said. “These are the people the members think have shown outstanding commitment to the department — that they’ve gone above and beyond.”

During the banquet, the department and its auxiliary provided reports. Members also heard from keynote speaker Julian Taliaferro, a retired Charlottesville fire chief.

“When he was first appointed, he was the youngest paid fire chief,” Goss said. “He’s now the treasurer of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.”

RHONDA FINCH | HERALD Pictured are, from left, seated, Lt. Tyler Atkinson, Capt. Cayden Eagles, Chief Andrew Goss, retired Chief Julian Taliaferro, Ernie Ross, Assistant Chief Dean Farmer, first row, standing, Chaplin Mark Mills, Gary Atkins, Geoffrey Goodwin, Kenneth Howard, Noah Lovelady, Shayne Mims, Julie Bailey, Paige Roberts, Travis Finch, Josh Bruce, back row, Sean Ryan, Chris Riviere, Aaron Waskiewicz, Patrick Eason, Jessie Call and Ronald Shult.

RHONDA FINCH | HERALD
Pictured are, from left, seated, Lt. Tyler Atkinson, Capt. Cayden Eagles, Chief Andrew Goss, retired Chief Julian Taliaferro, Ernie Ross, Assistant Chief Dean Farmer, first row, standing, Chaplin Mark Mills, Gary Atkins, Geoffrey Goodwin, Kenneth Howard, Noah Lovelady, Shayne Mims, Julie Bailey, Paige Roberts, Travis Finch, Josh Bruce, back row, Sean Ryan, Chris Riviere, Aaron Waskiewicz, Patrick Eason, Jessie Call and Ronald Shult.