Lewes holds 220th awards banquet
Story Location:
Lewes, DE 19958
United States
Fighting back tears, Naomi Rickards accepted a life member award as the Lewes Fire Department celebrated its 220th annual awards banquet.
Naomi has been involved with the department in some way for 50 years. She is the widow of Louis Rickards, long-time department chief and president who died in a 2002 car crash while driving with Naomi to the Delmarva Firefighter’s Convention in Virginia.
Naomi thanked all the volunteers, family members and friends who packed the room at Nassau Valley Vineyards. She said Louis had been the love of her life and it was hard to believe she was receiving the award without him.
In addition the life member recognition, Naomi was presented with a tribute from the House by Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth, and Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton. Louis was also a state trooper, and both Schwartzkopf and Smyk, former state troopers, had known Naomi through that line of work also.
The Lewes Fire Department's 200-run club for 2015
• Pres. Edward Schaeffer – 512 alarms
• Frederick Slater – 441
• Eric Swanson – 345
• Jay Campbell – 339
• Patty Marvel – 337
• Don Clemens – 277
• Shane Raley – 277
• Liam Stabner – 250
• Michael Rickards – 246
• Wally Evans – 244
• Jacob Slater – 239
• Barry Schneider – 233
• Gordon Davis – 228
• Bob Ruddick – 216
• Kristen Miller – 209
• Caleb Hagan – 206
• Craig Reynolds – 205
• Terrence Bayko – 204
• Ernie Stanley – 204
Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, also presented Naomi with a tribute from the Senate.
Dr. Jim Marvel was also honored as a life member for his service with the department.
After first congratulating Marvel, Chief Gordon Davis said he has helped so many people during his tenure that if someone hadn’t been assisted by Marvel over the past couple of decades that person had lived a healthy and injury free life.
Dylan Sharp was named Firefighter of the Year; Pete Dirks received the Louis A. Rickards Presidents Award; and Tom Culleny won the Presidents Award.
Fourteen firemen and women received Years of Service Awards – 5 years, Anthony Esposito, Geoffrey Shevock, Dennis Moore, Linda Stoops, Marcia Esposito, and Nina Wilkinson; 10 years, Jay Campbell; 15 years, Woody Magee and Shawn Musgrove; 25 years, Randy Soots and Richard Bunting; 30 years, George Hunsicker Jr.; and 40 years, Jim Dempsey and Richard Reinhart.
The department's career staff, Dennis Dean and Jason Brode, each received a 15 Years of Service Award.
Lewes Mayor Ted Becker and Lewes Board of Public Works Secretary Tom Owen heartily thanked the department for all their time and effort, and then each presented department President Ed Shafer and Treasurer Bryan Pepper with a donation – $30,000 from the city and $25,000 from public works.
Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.
