LiaisonThomas Totten
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD COMMITTEE

Jerry Galu **
Nelson Durland*
Donald Farrell
Timothy Boel
Rick Dillon
 

Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
2009 - Nelson Durland - Sullivan County
2010 - Duncan Wilson - Ulster County
2011 - Robert A. McKinney - Warren County

Hudson Valley Lifetime Achievement Application
You must have Adobe Acrobat to view.  Click Here to Download Acrobat

The Lifetime Achievement Award Committee is seeking individuals who are outstanding members of their community and volunteer fire department.  The award recipient must have made a substantial contribution to the emergency services field and also to his/her community at large.  The committee consists of members of the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association who will review each application submitted to ensure that the proper criteria are met and that the recipient is of the highest caliber.  The committee will acknowledge receipt of each application and will contact the nominating sponsor when needed.  This prestigious award is presented to one individual each year at the annual convention in June.
 

Lifetime Achievement Award 2nd Annual Presentation June 18, 2010 The recipient of this year’s award is Duncan Wilson from Ulster County.  Duncan has spent a lifetime volunteering in the fire service and in his community.  He began volunteering at an early age and earned his Eagle Scout Badge and is a member of the Order of the Arrow.  He later became an Assistant Scout Master.  He went on to serve in the Civil Defense and was an Air Raid Warden.  He also participated in the US Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet program, but was unable to complete that training as the program ended. He was honorably discharged from the US Army, and then volunteered in the fire service.  He is a 55 year member and Past Chief of the Woodstock Fire Company.   Duncan assisted with the implementation of a Jr. Firefighter program in his department.  He chairs his company fund raising committee and the new member investigating committee.  He served as Ulster County Deputy Fire Emergency Coordinator for 1960 – 1990 and then as the Ulster County Fire and Emergency Coordinator from 1991 – 1997.  He was one of the original members of the Ulster County Arson Task Force and served as the Cause and Origin specialist for 12 years.  Duncan was also a member of the IBM Kingston Fire Brigade for 31 years.  He served as Lieutenant and Captain of the Hazardous Materials Response Team for 5 years and was a member of the Confined Space Rescue Team.  Duncan has attended the NYS weekend at the National Fire Academy in Emmetsburg Maryland for the past 20 years.  He is a member and training officer of the Ulster County Vol. Fire Police Assn. and has coordinated the Fire Police Seminar in Ulster County.  He has always been an advocate for training and education in the fire service.  Duncan is a Past President and member of the Ulster County VFA, Past President and member of the Ulster County VFP Assn, Past President and member of the Royal Order of Red Vests, Director of the Hudson Valley VFA and a Life Member of the Ulster County Fire chiefs Assn.  He currently serves on the Ulster County Fire Advisory Board and has since 1979.  He is a Director on the Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster Counties Firefighter’s Burn Treatment Fund.  Duncan also chairs the Woodstock Fire Department Scholarship Committee.  In his community he has served as Assistant Scout Master and was the, First Aid Merit Badge Counselor for the Woodstock Boy Scout Troup.  He was an umpire for the Woodstock Little League for 8 years and served on the Board of Directors for 5 years.  He is currently Vice President of the Woodstock Senior citizens Club.  Duncan and past Coordinator Wesley Clark presented the Home Fire Safety Fire Prevention Program to the senior citizen clubs and schools throughout Ulster County.  He also plays Santa for the homebound seniors and also at the Manor and Lake Rest Homes in Lake Hill.  He has a telephone check list going for the seniors and provides rides and help to those in need of assistance.  He has received numerous certificates and letters of commendation for his volunteer work.  Duncan has assisted many organizations, community, fire and ambulance throughout the years and he gives full measure to what ever he is doing.  I congratulate Duncan for all of the time, thought and effort he gives to others.