Shelby Volunteer Fire Company celebrates 75 years of service

Photos by Ginny Kropf: A number of proclamations were made Saturday night honoring Shelby Volunteer Fire Company’s 75 years. Here Senator Rob Ortt reads his tribute to the fire company, while at left, legislator Bill Eick on behalf of the Orleans County Legislature and Assemblyman Steve Hawley wait their turn.

Gary Watts honored for 50 years as active firefighter

MEDINA – Shelby Volunteer Fire Company celebrated two special occasions at their 55th annual installation banquet Saturday night.

While it was only the 55th banquet, it celebrated the fire company’s 75th anniversary and the 50-year membership of Gary Watts.

A highlight of Shelby Volunteer Fire Company’s annual installation banquet Saturday night was honoring Gary Watts for 50 years of membership. Here President Tim Petry, left, presents Watts with a plaque recognizing his years of service.

Watts’ father Sid was one of the founding members of the fire company and his mother Naomi was an original member of the Auxiliary. Gary said his father also sold fire apparatus, so they all grew up in the fire company. Sid also served as chief for many years.

“As soon as I was 18, I joined the fire company,” Gary said. “That was what you did. It was in our blood.”

“Buster” (Sidney E.) was the first to complete 50 years in the fire company, followed several years ago by brothers Howard, now Gary and next year, Dale.

The entire family was present for the occasion Saturday night, including Gary and wife Robyn’s three children, Julianne and husband Patrick McGrath and their four children; son Jeff and wife Ashly and their two children from Kansas; and daughter Jennifer Thayer, her two children and fiancé Paul Knife from Florida.

Gary said he has held every firematic position in the fire company. After serving several terms as chief, he stepped down and then returned to serve as third assistant, and back up the line again.

“I’ve always been proud to be a member of this organization,” he said.

He said he was excited beyond belief when all eight of his grandchildren showed up at his house Saturday morning. He had no idea his families from Florida and Kansas were going to attend. Daughter Julianne and family live in the area.

“I told Robyn the other day I only wished the other two could be here,” he said.

Gary Watts is flanked by his family during a celebration of his 50 years in the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company Saturday night. Wife Robyn and Gary are fifth and sixth from the left. Holding the plaque are grandchildren Jackson and Makenzie McGrath. Others in the picture, from left, are son-in-law Patrick McGrath (holding Emmalynn) daughter Julianne McGrath, granddaughter Charlotte McGrath, daughter Jennifer Thayer and fiancé Paul Knife, daughter-in-law Ashly Watts and son Jeff Watts. In front of Jennifer are Madden Thayer, Mason Thayer, Tyler Watts and Riley Watts.

The banquet began with a welcome from president Tim Petry and Auxiliary president Elaine Watts, and introduction of guests by assistant chaplain Phil Keppler. Chaplain Karl Haist Jr. said there was no memorial ceremony, as they were fortunate not to have any members pass away this year.

Executive board officers installed for next year by Tiffany Petry were Howard Watts, president; Gary Lamar, vice president; Kirk Myhill, treasurer; Dylan Sturtevant, assistant treasurer; Kali Sturtevant, secretary; Dale Watts, sergeant-at-arms; Karl Haist Jr., chaplain; Phil Keppler, assistant chaplain; Andrea Benz, steward; and Andy Benz, Bill Luckman and Nick DiCureia, trustees for three, two and one year respectively.

Tiffany Petry, standing at the podium, installs officers of the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company at their banquet on Saturday night.

Firematic officers were David Moden, chief; Zachary Petry, deputy chief; Crystal Luckman, assistant chief; Hunter Sturtevant, firematic captain; Rob Schaal, firematic lieutenant; and Jenna Simmons, EMS captain.

Shirley Printup, standing at left, installs members of the Shelby Ladies Auxiliary. They are, from left, treasurer Lori Myhill, secretary Robyn Watts, president Elaine Watts and chaplain Marian Fry. Absent is vice president Patricia Fuller.

Officers of the Ladies Auxiliary installed by Shirley Printup were Elaine Watts, president; Patricia Fuller, vice president; Robyn Watts, secretary; Lori Myhill, treasurer; Marian Fry, chaplain; Mary Herbert, one-year trustee; and Sherry Wheatley, two-year trustee.

Several proclamations were presented to the fire company in honor of its 75th anniversary. These included Senator Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Bill Eick on behalf of the Orleans County Legislature, Steve Seitz from the Shelby Town Board and Diana Pfersick, director of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York. Seth Dumese, chief of Carlton Fire Company, presented a plaque to the fire company.

Ortt told Gary, “You come from a noble volunteer family. Your values have spread to your entire family. We need more people like you.”

Hawley said 50 years volunteering in one organization is unheard of in this day and age.

Pfersick said after the proclamations for 50 years as a volunteer firefighter, the greatest thing she could do was to honor Gary for his dedication.

(Left) Elaine Watts, left, president of the Shelby Ladies Auxiliary, chose Robyn Watts as recipient of her President’s Award. (Right) Shelby Volunteer Fire Company president Tim Petry, left, congratulates chief David Moden, who is beginning his second term in office.

Tim Petry presented his wife Dawn with a bouquet of flowers for her struggle in conquering health issues during the year.

Moden said this was the first time in 30 years he had stood at the podium as chief. He said Shelby Volunteer Fire Company was in a very unique place during this time when people are not stepping up to volunteer. He said they had gained one new member and were fortunate to have 46 different firefighters respond to calls. They averaged 14 members at each call, he said.

Moden added the fire company was fortunate to take delivery of a new tanker recently, costing more than $300,000. In comparison, he said in 1990, their last tanker cost $99,000. Also, he said in 1990 they responded to 165 calls, while this past year they had 256, the most of which were EMS.

Moden thanked his line officers from last year and significant others who helped out.

“It is they who make the chief look good,” he said.

Moden also praised the top 10 members who responded to calls last year. They were Tim Petry, Howard Watts, Gary Lamar, John Rotoli, Zach Fike, Jason Watts, Joe Kyle, Nick DiCureia, Bill Luckman and Tom Falls. Moden said the line officers will be treating the 10 men to dinner at Zambistro’s.

Auxiliary president Elaine Watts said because their groups is so small, she didn’t know what to get for a gift to the fire company, as they weren’t able to raise a lot of money. She finally settled on a set of chair stackers for the firefighters who are trying to organize their supplies.

For her President’s Award, Watts selected Robyn Watts for the honor.

“If she’s not chairing an event, she’s there to help,” Elaine said.

Shelby Volunteer Fire Company president Tim Petry, right, presented a plaque to his family for all their help during his terms in office. From left are wife Dawn, son Scott, daughter Tiffany and daughter Crystal Luckman, who just became the department’s first female assistant chief.

Tim Petry announced that Joe Kyle will become a life member this year. Petry also presented a certificate of appreciation to Scott Petry, an outgoing officer, and Tiffany Petry, outgoing secretary and EMS captain.

Tim was thanked by Chief Moden for his eight years as president.

Tim Petry presented a “Friend of the Fire Company” award to Don Marcher on behalf of Junior Wilson’s Sportsmen’s Club in Medina.

“They donate to us every year,” Petry said.

The program concluded with a roast to Gary Watts by his son Jeff.

“It is absolutely an honor and privilege to roast my father,” Jeff said, recalling the years he spent as a volunteer at Shelby. “It’s been a long time since I’ve held a mic at Shelby Fire Hall.”

He told how much he admired his father for volunteering for 50 years, while Jeff got paid as a firefighter for much of that time. He reminded the audience that volunteering is not free.

“It costs to be a volunteer, in terms of his time and the family’s time,” he said. “I call him ‘dad.’ You call him ‘volunteer.’ But we should all call him a hero.”

“Fifty years seems like a long time, but I remember the day I joined,” Gary said. “Back then we had a waiting list to join the Shelby Fire Company.”

A final recognition was given to Crystal Luckman, the fire company’s first female to serve as assistant chief and daughter of president Tim Petry.

“This has been a goal of mine since I was a little girl,” Luckman said. “It is an honor. My dad has been a great leader and role model.”