Firefighter - 2020 - 37

2020 FLORIDA FIREFIGHTER

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
JACK ECK
Union County Volunteer Fire Department, Lake Butler, FL

Dedication; just one of many words on a list of qualifications to
receive this award, and a quality that Mr. Eck has demonstrated time
and time again. Volunteering in an all volunteer department can be
difficult. No matter the time of the call, or if it's perceived as "boring,"
if Jack is needed and available, he goes. Jack is our number 2
responder in the county, preceded only by the chief.
Jack shows loyalty to the cause of the fire department. He's attended
yearly classes during Volunteer Week at the fire college, recognizes where the department needs to
improve, and requests training in that area. If there is ever a need for community interface with the
fire department, I can always count on Jack to be one of the first to volunteer.
While working a full-time job outside of the county, Jack still finds time to respond to more calls than most
of the department. He finds things that need to be done at the station and does them without being asked. In
all the years I have known Jack as a volunteer, he's never complained and always represents the department well to
customers. While this job evokes high emotion and stress, he is always cool, calm, and collected.

FORESTRY FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR

DAVID LAWRENCE KENT
Chipola Forestry Center, Forest Area Supervisor, Jackson County
David Kent has served as a Wildland Firefighter with the Florida Forest Service for more
than twenty-two years. He began his career with the Chipola Forestry Center at the
Youngstown Forestry Station in 1997. David transferred to the Marianna Forestry Station
in 2011 and was later promoted to the Forest Area Supervisor position in July of 2013.
David has improved operations in the Chipola Forestry Center by establishing himself
as a proven leader. His efforts during Hurricane Michael played an essential role to the
organization's success, and his character remains a fundamental element in Chipola's
recovery progression.
During the first days of impact, he immediately ensured the safety and well-being of all his employees by helping to
provide meals, shelter, and generators for power. Although David and his family suffered significant personal damages
to their homes and properties, he realized his role in emergency response and began assisting the community.
For several months after the storm, David continued to ensure his area received maximum recovery efforts. All this
while the Marianna Forestry Station facilities remained severely damaged. These buildings offered no areas for office
management, but David continued to maintain the moral of his employees and reminded them of their priorities.
David remains humble to the position and does not seek accolades of success for himself. He takes pride in the
Florida Forest Service and strives to improve himself along with others in the organization.

Firefighter - 2020

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