Breckenridge Texan

Breckenridge Fire Chief Calvin Chaney was recognized as Firefighter of the Year for 2017 – 2018 by Rotary Club District 5790 at their annual District Conference last month in Dallas.

Rotary Club District 5790 Governor Christopher McLucas (right) presents Breckenridge Fire Chief Calvin Chaney (Center) with the organization’s Firefighter of the year award at their annual District Conference in May. Also pictured is Andy McCuistion president-elect of the Breckenridge Rotary Club. (Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club)

Each year the organization recognizes vocations that demonstrate the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.”  This year’s awards were presented to a teacher, a veteran, a police officer and a firefighter.

Discussing the award with city commissioners at the Breckenridge City Commissioner’s meeting Tuesday night, Chaney said he was humbled by the award and honored to be in the company of his fellow award recipients.

“It was nice.  I was amazed to just get recognized,” he said. “It was a big honor.”

Breckenridge City Manager Andy McCuistion, who is also the president-elect of the Breckenridge Rotary Club, traveled with Chaney to receive the award.

“I appreciate Calvin. He does a good job for us,” McCuistion said.

According the District’s website, clubs around the district recognized the professions throughout the year at their weekly meetings.  The clubs then submitted a nomination for each profession to the district for recognition at the district level.  Each of those nominations, from the various clubs, were compiled and presented to a panel of judges, who then selected one person to be recognized for each profession.

Their web site describes Chaney as a 16-year employee of the City of Breckenridge who wears many hats, also serving as the Fire Marshal for the city and county, the Chief Code Enforcement Officer, Chief Building Inspector, head training officer for the Texas Commission on Fire Protection for local personnel, the Flood Plain Administrator and has oversight for the Animal Welfare Department. He responds to all fires, attends City Commission meetings, Planning and Zoning meetings, Board of Adjustment meetings, and most County Commissioner meetings. He helped the Fire Department acquire a new fire truck bay and new pumper, the animal welfare team rehab the animal shelter, the code enforcement team demolish 61 sub-standard structures, and led the emergency management team to rescue multiple victims of the 2016 Memorial Day flood and recover one fatality.

Rotary District 5790 is composed of 71 Rotary Clubs across the North Central Plains area of Texas.