2025 SMVFA Awards and Honors

50 Years of Service Awards

Charles County

• Donald Smith – Benedict VFD & RS

• Mike Roberts – Hughesville VFD & RS

• Wayne Higdon – Indian Head VFD & RS

St. Mary’s County

• Donald Johnson – Hollywood VFD

• John Montgomery – Mechanicsville VFD

• James Cooper – Ridge VFD

• Francis Raley – Ridge VFD

• Philip Ridgell – Ridge VFD

• Robert Wood – Ridge VFD

(No recipients were listed from Calvert County this year.)

Hall of Fame Inductees

Charles County

• Donald Smith – Benedict VFD & RS

• Joseph Gronau – Bryans Road VFD & RS

• Kenny Staley – Cobb Island VFD & RS

Calvert County

• Richard Weems, Sr. – St. Leonard VFD & RS

St. Mary’s County

• Lauren Johnson – Bay District VFD

• Charles Miedzinski – Hollywood VFD

• Ronald Hafner – Ridge VFD

• Paula Turner – Ridge VRS

• Matt Bowes – Second District VFD & RS

• Donald Phetteplace – Seventh District VRS

Convention Awards

Fire Prevention

Class II

• 1st Place: Cobb Island VFD & RS

Class III

• 1st Place: Potomac Heights VFD & RS

• 2nd Place: Newburg VFD & RS

Class IV

• 1st Place: Ridge VFD

• 2nd Place: Second District VFD & RS

Class V

• 1st Place (Tie): Mechanicsville VFD / Ridge VFD

• 2nd Place: Bay District VFD

• 3rd Place: Waldorf VFD

Special Projects

• 1st Place: Bay District VFD

• 2nd Place: Mechanicsville VFD

• 3rd Place: Ridge VFD

• 4th Place: Newburg VFD & RS

Overall Awards

• Roland B. Duke Award: Cobb Island VFD & RS

• W. David Gott Award: Scot Best, RVFD

• Laverne Stewart Memorial Award: Shannon Wince, LVRS

Life Save Recognition

Bay District VFD

• Matthew Duncan

• Jacob Clark

• Peter Marshall

• Carl Peters

Unit Citations

Leonardtown VRS

• Melanie Thompson

• Taybor Grimes

Mechanicsville VFD

• Mark Trowbridge

• Ryan Raley

• TJ Faunce

• Keith Hemming

• Bill Hemming

• Delontaye Herbert

• Landon Johnson

• Called Thompson

Hughesville VFD

• Trevor Simpson

• Todd Connick

• Chris Cole

• Rick Feist

Hollywood VFD

• Bill Rector

• Anthony Gardiner

• Alan Nelson

• Patrick Nelson

Hollywood VRS

• James Nelson

• Crystal Nelson

2025 Memorial Service – Honoring the Fallen

The following members were remembered for their dedicated service to the fire and EMS community:

Calvert County

• William L. Agambar, Jr.

• Daniel O. Baker

• Betty Cawthorne

• Fred W. Hotzberger

• Mark D. Leser

• Rafael J. Nieves

• William Pickerall, Sr.

• William C. Schooley

• David A. Trott

• Robert C. Weaver

Charles County

• Edward R. Colona

• Janis M. DePuy

• Robert L. Dofflemyer

• Dawn-Moree Dugan

• Barbara G. Dunn

• Judith T. Frazier

• John Gallagher Jr.

• Jeffrey S. Garner

• David “Tony” Hayden

• Cory A. Porter

• Judy Rye

St. Mary’s County

• Blaine Caldwell

• John A. Candela

• Lew W. Chavis

• Richard W. Cullison

• Joseph L. Dean, Jr.

• Nancy Duryea

• Harry C. Finch, Jr.

• Charles B. Gatton

• Joseph L. Greer, Jr.

• Mary C. Hammett

• Elizabeth M. Holley

• Joseph “Bubby” Knott

• Debra J. Meeks

• Mary A. Norris

• Thomas R. Norris

• Patricia A. Russell

• Sandra L. Sullivan

• Elizabeth L. Thomas

• Maralyn B. Thompson

This convention stood as a powerful reminder of the sacrifice, commitment, and resilience of our volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel. The Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association extends its deepest gratitude to all honorees, their families, and the departments they serve.