Presenting the two Don Hartman awards was the culmination of months of planning and a full day of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Oracle Fire Department.
The very first one was given to the family of Don Hartman, Oracle’s very first fire chief and an important contributor to the organization of the Oracle Fire District. The second one was presented to Brian McGinnis, Battalion Chief at Oracle Fire Department, naming him the district’s Firefighter of the Year.
Assistant Fire Chief Robert Jennings said that McGinnis’s dedication was one of the true characteristics of him.
“It’s a daily basis I deal with him on and I can tell you that the dedication not only to this district, but to his regular job, to his family is phenomenal,” Jennings said. “It’s hard to do. It takes a lot of work. And it takes somebody special to do it.”
Jennings also thanked McGinnis’s wife and two children for sharing him with the district.
The day’s festivities included self-guided tours of the firehouse, free hot dogs (cooked by the CERT ladies), a visit from Smokey Bear and a wonderful cake.
Congratulations, Oracle Fire District, on your 50th Anniversary.