Staff Writer

Three men who play a part in the operation of the Buffalo Fire Department recently were honored with awards.

Capt. Jared Gardin was named firefighter of the year.

“Jared keeps our trucks in tip-top shape,” said Chief Bryan Gardin, who is Jared's older brother by two years “If they call and say something is wrong with a truck Jared will stop what he is doing and go work on it.”

Jared said Bryan got him involved with the fire department and he joined in 1993. He has two children - C.J., 13 and Taylor, 11. Jared works as a shop technician at Milliken's Cedar Hill Plant.

Jared thanked his children for their understanding and patience with the amount of time he puts in at the department.

“I leave work and go by there and keep all the trucks going,” he said. “Sometimes I don't get home until late. If it wasn't for the kids, I couldn't do it. They go with me and watch TV.”

Dave Proctor received the chief's award. Bryan Gardin said Proctor is the go-to man if you need something done.

“You can call on him to run errands, if I need something faxed he can do it,” Bryan said. “If I can't get to it he knows where it's located and he can do it. Dave is a lot of help to the guys at the firehouse.”

Proctor said he was shocked to receive the award and just enjoys helping out. He began coming to the fire department at an early age with his father, Kenny, longtime volunteer and board treasurer.

“Bryan and Jared got me all involved; I've been a member five years and loved it ever since,” said Proctor, also the son of Tonya Proctor.

Proctor, 18, and a Union Christian Day School graduate, said he hopes to make firefighting a career. He is taking a class in incident command and in February will begin a class on interior structure firefighting.

Glenn Sherbert was given the title of honorary firefighter, an award voted on by all the firefighters.

“He helped with the West Springs substation when it was built,” Bryan Gardin said. “He was one of the people in that area who joined to help the fire department out. He does a lot to help the people of the Buffalo and West Springs communities. Glenn is an outstanding guy.”

Sherbert is retired as Little Debbie distributor for Union County and now works at Tyger River Correctional Institution in prison industries. He said his 11 years as department member at Buffalo have opened his eyes.

“They don't get nearly enough of what they need - help or anything else,” Sherbert said. “I never realized until I got on all the responsibilities they have.”