Firefighter chaplain receives Clore Award

By Don Richeson
Eagle Editor
Published: April 4, 2008

Hunter Weaver, the longtime chaplain of the Madison County Volunteer Fire Company, received its prestigious James O. Clore Award Saturday. Citing Weaver’s skill inspiring others, MCVFC President Robert “Radar” Finks presented the award at the company’s 52nd annual banquet, which was March 22 at the Madison fire hall.

“This person has always seemed to have a sixth sense to give us a little pep talk when we needed it and at the end of the meeting he has always passed
along good kind words that people have stopped and told him how good a job he has done,” said Finks just before presenting the award. “And he tells us how proud he is of our organization and he makes us feel proud to be a part of that organization.”

Later in the program, Weaver, who joined the company in 1962 and has been its chaplain since 1979, demonstrated his talents energizing firefighters as he made some personal comments to the banquet audience just before saying a closing prayer.

“In the middle of a cold winter night [volunteer fighters are] laying in bed and at the first tone of that pager their feet hit the floor and they come into the firehouse as fast as they can,” the chaplain began. “Those men come in that door you ought to see them — they’re trying to take their hat off, they’re trying to take their coats off, they’re trying to take their shoes off — all at one time.””

He continued, “So they can get in that gear, get in those trucks, fire those engines up, the doors go up, the lights come on and they’re going to a fire or some type of emergency and they have no idea what they’re going to run into … they have no idea whose house it’s going to be or what they’re going to have to do. But they’re going at it just like they’re flying forward, they want to get there, they want to help somebody.”

The chaplain concluded, “It has to be a special kind of person to do that. I’m so thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to rub shoulders with these fine men and these ladies that come out to operate this fire company. They do it out of the generosity of their hearts and they do it free of pay.”

The Clore Award was established in 1985 in recognition of the company’s main founder. It is especially meaningful because its winner is selected by a vote of the company’s active firefighters.

Speaking later in the program, MCVFC Chief Jack Fray also had praise for this year’s Clore Award winner. “The spiritual support and benefits of knowing [Hunter Weaver] that he gives us through his work as chaplain words cannot express,” Fray said.

The chief also had good words for the families that support Madison’s firefighters, as well as for the county’s residents as a whole. “Everywhere I go … I can brag on the community of Madison,” he said. “You talk to other chiefs in different places and they don’t talk about the support that they get. We get a lot of donations of time of energy of efforts of individuals in the community who don’t belong to the fire department as members but they belong to the community of Madison and they say, ‘I’m just glad to help you out.’”

Chief Fray also received banquet recognition – for going on more calls in 2007 than any other firefighter – 339, or 82 percent of all the calls last year.

In addition to the chief, MCVFC Safety Officer Anthony Burke also named other firefighters who were the top-10 call responders:

• Ricky Erb – 176.

• Justin Weakley – 155.

• Mike Sacra – 140.

• Robert “Radar” Finks – 132.

• Steve Hoffman – 128.

• Troy Coppage – 126.

• Larry Apel – 120.

• Anthony Burke – 113.

• Mike Weakley – 102.

Burke said 2007 was the busiest year in the history of the company, which was formed in 1946. It had 419 calls – nearly a quarter more than five years ago. He also noted the company contributed 275 man hours during the two days it assisted special rescue operations in the Sept. 7 plane crash on a remote Syria mountain.

Also at the banquet, MCVFC Assistant Chief Troy Coppage presented pins to firefighters recognizing their years of service.

Sixty-year service pin recipients include:

• Shirley “SS” Fishback.

• Garland Kidd.

Fifty-year service pin recipient:

• Danny Clore.

Forty-year service pin recipient:

• Hunter Weaver.

Thirty-year service pin recipients include:

• Chip Fowler.

• Skeeter Dove.

• Mike Berrey.

• Davey Aylor.

Fifteen-year service pin recipients include:

• Jeff Colvin.

• Ricky Apel.

Ten-year service pin recipient:

• Mike Wallace.

Five-year service pin recipients include:

• Hallie Lillard.

• David Piszker.

• Davin Hoffman.