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TOP STORY OF THE DAY, brought to you free by WICU: IVFA honors Taylors for volunteer service
A local couple was recently recognized for its community service during the Indiana Volunteer Firefighter’s Association at the annual convention in Clarksville.
Pete Taylor has been a firefighter for over 58 years and remains active in the community. Beverly Taylor has worked right along her husband’s side in the fire department auxiliary.
The couple’s commitment to the volunteer fire department service and their community was celebrated on June 11 at the IVFA ceremony.
Pete was selected as the 2021 “Mr. IVFA,” an award for a person who has done the most to further and benefit all aims and projects of the Fire Service of Indiana as a whole.
“It’s like a ‘Hall of Fame’ thing,” Pete said.
Pete, who has been Van Buren Volunteer Fire Department’s Chief (31 years) and currently the Battalion Chief and Safety Officer, is currently the Chaplain and Chairman for District 11A
Beverly received the 2021 “Lois Boaz Award” to recognize her outstanding commitment and ongoing involvement in the fire department auxiliary for 48 years, her community, and her family.
“It was unexpected and a beautiful honor,” said Beverly about the prestigious award.
Both awards are the highest recognitions by IVFA and were history in the making: Being it was only the second time a husband and wife received these awards simultaneously.
Surprised by the awards presentation, each received a trophy and a jacket. The couple did not know about the awards and were surprised, but it wasn’t the biggest surprise of the evening — their children, Jim Greenwell and Amy Taylor Switzer and her husband Matt, were at the awards ceremony.
It was an exciting night for the couple who didn’t know what was about to happen, “But what made it even better was having our children there with us,” the couple said, adding their daughter and her husband traveled from Texas to be at the event. “We didn’t know we were going to win the awards, but they did.
“It was even better with them there.”
Posey’s Cody Barnard honored for excellence
During the Indiana Volunteer Firefighter’s Association annual convention in Clarksville, another local firefighter was recognized for his service.
Posey Fire Chief Cody Barnard received the 2021 “MacQueen Excellence Award” for District 11A.
The award is presented to those who have made a difference in the fire service or their community.
Joining the Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department in 2001 while still in high school, Barnard has been chief for six years. He is very active in the community, a first responder, and in the local fire service community.