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Crime & Safety

Good Will Fire Co. Gives Top Awards

Brian Schultz, Fire Chief Scott Weber, Elizabeth Gorr and Dale Snyder win top awards from Good Will Fire Co. in Trexlertown.

 

For 45 years, Dale Snyder has been painting the distinctive gold-leaf lettering on all of the fire trucks of in Trexlertown. For his meticulous craftsmanship and dedication, the fire company Saturday night presented him with an ornate replica of an old-time fire bell and gave him a standing ovation.

"I really appreciate it, I don't think I deserve it," Snyder told the crowd at Good Will's annual awards banquet at Willow Tree Grove in Orefield. "Everybody has a special place and T-Town is mine. I just feel very blessed in a lot of ways."

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William Gillespie, fire marshal and company vice president, said Snyder of Lower Macungie did his final work on the company's newest truck, aerial ladder truck 2531. "He painted the letters on free-hand," Gillespie said. "It's truly an art."

Brian Schultz, who heads the company's building committee and has overseen several projects, was named Firefighter of the Year for his dedication over 28 years.

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The company's fire team sponsored its first Ladies Auxiliary Member of the Year award, which went to Elizabeth Gorr who joined in 1972. Over the years, she had been auxiliary president and vice-president, and run numerous fundraisers, including bingo. 

In addition, the auxiliary brings food to firefighters when they are called out for a long period and Elizabeth Gorr was key to those efforts, Weber said.  

Good Will Fire Chief Scott Weber received the Rescue Award, which is decided by past recipients. Weber, who has been with Good Will since 1999, has shown great leadership at fire and accident scenes, according to Arlan Wright, second assistant chief. Weber "has done it all with a calm tone of voice and always in control," Wright said.

Weber, Gorr, Snyder and Schultz all received proclamations from the state Legislature in honor of their service. 

Years of Service awards went to Arlan Wright and Fred Gross (postumously) for 45 years of service; Steve Oplinger for 20 years; Jamie Gorr for 10 years and Ryan Seckington for five years.

John Grantz was honored for responding to the most calls -- 206 in 2011.

Banquet emcee Carl Schmoyer III paid tribute to Fred Gross, who died 2011. He called Gross "one of the most dedicated volunteers in our company's history" and talked about what a great laugh Gross had. "We'll never forget your dedication or your laugh," Weber said. 

There was plenty of laughter Saturday night as members held up giant cue cards for Good Will President Gary Gorr when he spoke because last year he kept losing his place in his notes. Schmoyer kept the crowd entertained. Of the new aerial ladder truck 2531, Schmoyer said, "It really is damn tall. The first call was unanticipated: an automatic alarm at the international space station." 

Steve Oplinger received a standing ovation for his rendition of "You Raise Me Up." 

 

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