The Firefighter of the Year Award was presented last week by the Jackson Exchange Club at the Doubletree Hotel, recognizing outstanding service by a Madison County firefighter.
Recipient Daniel Beck, firefighter at Madison County Fire Department, has been in service for over five years after originally starting as a volunteer.
“My best friend, who was a volunteer at the time, asked if I would consider joining,” Beck said. “Ever since then, I’ve been hooked.”
Madison County Commissioner Carl Alexander, who was a former recipient of the award, presented the honor to Beck and commented on his performance in a speech during the Tuesday ceremony.
“I’ve known this young man ever since he got into service.,” Alexander stated. “I know how special [the award] is … and I want to thank y’all … for letting us have a small part in honoring him today.”
Others were more deserving of the award, Beck expressed. “So it’s very humbling, very appreciative to know that I was selected,” he said.
There’s more pressure, he said, but also a sense of honor.
“You have to uphold the values even more now that you’ve been nominated,” Beck said.
Beck loves his job, and his favorite part is his fellow firefighters.
“One of the nicest things is the breakfast time in the mornings because it’s a time for all of us to sit around to talk,” he said. They call it the “round table meetings,” he said.
“You get a real sense of camaraderie and brotherhood.”
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