The Connecticut State Firefighters Association, Hall of Fame Award is to recognize present and former members of an organized Fire Department that have served both their Fire Department, County and/or State-wide Fire Service Organizations above and beyond normal expectations, over an extended period of time. Inductees shall have demonstrated both leadership and motivation, for the betterment of the Fire Service, throughout Connecticut and the United States. These persons shall have contributed, in a positive way, to the enrichment of the
organizations that they represented.

Not only is the goal of this award to recognize those leaders, as outlined above, but also to encourage young people to join the Fire Service, both career and volunteer, and to continue to provide leadership and experience, throughout their Firefighting years. Also, to serve as a means of educating and informing the public about the important and indispensable service and protection that the Fire Service provides for the citizens of our communities, state and nation.

Connecticut State Firefighters Association Hall of Fame Class of 2013

Lewis R. Clark

Chief Lewis R. Clark served locally, with the Morris Fire Department, for many years.  Clark held a number of officer positions with the M.F.D., including Secretary, Vice President, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief for 10 years and ultimately as Chief of the Department from 1993-2011.

Clark was the first Emergency Medical Technician in the Morris Fire Department and was instrumental in starting their Fire Responder and Ambulance Services.

As a Chief Officer with the Department, he upgraded the apparatus fleet, oversaw conversion of the radio system from Low Band to High Band and helped to establish the Firefighter Rehab System in Litchfield County.  He was also the leading force that saw Morris win championships in five State Fire Convention Parades.

Chief Clark was also very active in a number of State Fire Organizations.  He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Litchfield County Dispatch.  In the Litchfield County Fire Chiefs Emergency Plan, he served on both their School and Radio Committees.  Additionally, he held the positions of 2^nd Vice President, 1^st Vice President and President, in 1999.  He also is a long time member of the Connecticut Parade Marshals Association, judging since 1995 and also serving as their group’s President.  Within the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, he has worked extensively with the Executive, Hall of Fame and Legislative Committees.  He served as Chairman of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, Litchfield County Vice President, 2^nd Vice President, 1^st Vice President and served as the Association President in 2009 and 2010.  Lew is also a long time member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association.

On a national level, he has been the Alternate Director of the National Volunteer Fire Council.

Inductee Clark was awarded the Morris Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year Award, twice…in 1992 and 2004.  Also, in 2004, he received the Waterbury Hospital EMS Award.

Charles H. Davin

Charles Davin was the Chief of the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department for 18 years, retiring in 1983.  Prior to serving as Chief, he was the Departments’ Drill Master and served in numerous, Fire Officer positions.  Under his tenure, the Monroe Fire Department set a milestone by purchasing the first diesel engine powered Fire Apparatus in Fairfield County.  They also constructed an addition to one of their Stations and also built a new one.

Chief Davin was a recipient of the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department’s Lifetime Achievement Award and was designated Fireman of the Year in 1975.

He held memberships in a number of State and National Fire Service Organizations – including the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, the Fairfield County Fire Chiefs, the Valley Fire Chiefs, the Connecticut Parade Marshals Association, the International Association of Fire Service Instructors, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the New England Fire Chiefs.

In his private employment, Chief Davin had a long and successful career as an agent for Nationwide Insurance.

Clyde Finger

Clyde Miller Finger served with the Bethel Volunteer Fire Department for 66 years, 31 of them as an Active Member.  He was the first member of the Bethel Fire Department to touch every rung of the “Leadership Ladder” – culminating as the Department’s Chief from 1967-1972.  During his time as the Chief of the Department, he oversaw the adding of the Ranks of Battalion Chief and EMS Captain to the administrative structure.

Chief Finger was the lead in a number of Department progressive actions – including major additions to the Department’s Apparatus Fleet.  He served on the Building Committee for the new Fire Station and was renowned for maintaining excellent relationships with the news media, the Town Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen.  He also served as the Town’s Civil Defense Director for several years.

He was a long time member of the Fairfield County Fire Chiefs Association and the Connecticut State Firefighters Association.  He was the Co-Chair of the 1955 State Firefighters Convention (which was impacted by Hurricane Diane) and Co-Chair and Treasurer of the 1961 Convention.

Michael Grant

Michael Grant served with the City of New Haven’s Fire Department for 42 years, retiring in 2014.  During his years with the New Haven Department, he held many roles and ranks – including Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Drillmaster, Drillmaster, Assistant Chief and Chief of Department.

A nationally recognized professional in the fields of Fire Service Training, Chief Grant served on the faculty at the Valley Regional Fire School and then as the Director of the New Haven Regional Fire School.  He also was a key leader in the city’s Homeland Security Task Force, which was extremely critical considering that New Haven is the home of several universities and colleges, as well as being a deep water commercial shipping port.

Grant served the Connecticut State Firefighters Association as a New Haven County Vice President and was on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Chiefs Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Always a “Firefighter’s Firefighter”, his fire-ground prowess and heroism were recognized numerous times.  He was named in many Unit Citations, received the Medal of Merit, the Medal of Valor, the Meritorious Citation and, in 2017, was recognized by the city with their Lifetime Achievement Award.

Robert J. Guthrie

Robert J. Guthrie, at the time of his induction, had over 29 years of service as a Volunteer with the West Haven Fire Department.  He also has the rare distinction of being the son of another Hall of Fame Inductee, James Guthrie.

His service within the West Haven Department, in addition to being a Firefighter, includes, but is not limited to being Co-Chair of their Appreciation Awards Night and serving on the State Firefighters Convention Committees in 1989, 1992, 2001 and 2004.

Guthrie served the Connecticut State Firefighters Association as the New Haven County Vice President and then, proceeded up the Chain of Command, ultimately serving as the Association President.

He held membership in a number of other State Fire Service organizations.  He was a Governor-appointed member of the state’s EMS Advisory Council and the Connecticut representative to the National Volunteer Fire Council.  He also served as a member of the NVFC’s Executive Board.

Alan R. Hawkins

Alan Hawkins, from the Storrs section of Mansfield, served as Chief of the Mansfield Fire Department.  Prior to serving as Chief of the Department, he also held the positions of 1^st Lieutenant, 2^nd Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief and Deputy Chief.  He also served the district as Deputy Fire Marshal.  While Chief, he led the development and oversight of a Million Dollar Station Renovation Project, he implemented a revenue recovery process with the ambulance services and added a second ambulance, to improve services.

Earlier in his service, he was a member of the Chaplin Volunteer Fire Department, holding the positions of Lieutenant, Captain and Assistant Chief.  He also served as an active member of the Hampton Chaplin Ambulance Corp.  Additionally, he also served as a member of the Tolland County Dispatch Board of Directors.

Hawkins was also very dedicated to Firefighter Training.  He served as the Chair of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association Education Committee, for many years.  This committee served as a consortium and common ground for the coordination and support of all of the Connecticut Regional Fire Training Facilities.  Under his leadership, commitments were obtained, from the State of Connecticut, to acquire more than $50 Million Dollars, in funding, for the rebuilding of the Regional Fire School Facilities.  Locally, he was extremely dedicated to the Eastern Connecticut Fire School, located in Willimantic.  He held a number of leadership positions with the school, including Board of Directors, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and President.

Chief Hawkins held several certifications, including Fire Officer I, Fire Officer II, Fire Service Instructor I and Fire Marshal.

Charles McInerney

Charles McInerney joined the Westfield Fire Department, in Middletown, in 1946.  During that time of service, he was a Lieutenant for 5 years, Captain for 10 years, Assistant Chief for 5 years and Chief for 3 years.

Chief McInerney was very active in a number of Fire Service Organizations – including the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, the Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association, the Middlesex County Fire Chiefs, the New England Fire Chiefs Association and was a member of the New England Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

He served the Connecticut State Firefighters Association as the Middlesex County Representative to the Legislative Committee and also as a member of the Andrew Flanagan Scholarship Committee, serving as that committee’s Treasurer for over 30 years.

Paul M. Metsack

Paul M. (Pudgy) Metsack joined the Ashford Volunteer Fire Department at the age of sixteen, and actively served that organization for 48 years, culminating with the Rank of Deputy Chief.  Chief Metsack was known as a leader in the areas of Firefighter Training and Officer Development.  He unselfishly worked with Firefighters and Officers to establish effective and safe operational guidelines and training objectives.

On the state level, Chief Metsack was a longtime member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association’s Legislative Committee and served as their Windham County Vice President for 23 years.  Additionally, he was a Past President of the Willimantic Dispatch Service, a member of the Windham & Tolland County Fireman’s Association and a Commander with the U.S. Coast Guard – Power Squadron.

Scott Potter

Scott Potter served with the Thomaston Volunteer Fire Department for many years, beginning in 1988, holding the titles of Hose Company Secretary and Fire Department Secretary and served as Chair of the Thomaston Board of Fire Commissioners.

At the state level, he was a member, Secretary, Vice President and President of the Litchfield County Fire Chiefs Plan.  He served on many committees within the Connecticut State Firefighters Association and held the offices of County Vice President, 1^st Vice President, 2^nd Vice President and ultimately, President.

Nationally, he served as the Assistant Director and Director of the National Volunteer Fire Council, representing Connecticut.

John Reardon

John P. Reardon had a career with the New Haven Fire Department that spanned over four decades.  During his years of service, he held the offices of Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Drillmaster, Drillmaster, Battalion Chief and ultimately as the Chief of Department.

A World War II Veteran of the United States Navy, he served aboard the U.S.S. Saginaw Bay.

A constant advocate for the safety and education of his personnel, Chief Reardon was instrumental in the development of a model for cities for Computerized Arson Warning Prevention Strategy (AWPS), organized the Department’s first Hazardous Materials Response Unit and mandated the use of self contained breathing apparatus.

A Founding Father of the Connecticut Career Fire Chiefs Association, Reardon also was a member of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, a Life Member of the Connecticut Fire Department Instructors Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Metropolitan Association of Fire Chiefs and the New England Association of Fire Chiefs.

Finally, he was an active member and Co-Chair of the State of Connecticut’s Governor’s Task Force on Arson, appointed by Governor Ella Grasso.

Ronald J. Samul

Ronald Samul served with the New London Fire Department for 43 years, from 1970 until 2013.  He retired, with the rank of Fire Chief, having served in that capacity from 1985 through 2013.  He also served as the City Manager for a period of 259 days.

Chief Samul, who first achieved an Associate in Science Degree, in Fire Technology and Administration, later earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Science.  During his leadership, the New London Fire Department was successful in obtaining Grants through the National Fire Act Grant program.

Amongst his outside activities, he was appointed to the Marine Group, Long Island Sound in 2010.  He served on the Region 4 Steering Committee, was a founding member of the Region 4 Incident Management Team and served on the Governor’s Arson Task Force.  He also was a founding member of New London County Fire Chiefs, was a founding member, and the first President, of the County Fire Marshals Association and a founding member of the Connecticut Career Fire Chiefs.

Ronald Samul was also a member of Connecticut Eastern Regional Response Integrated Team, the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, the Fire Marshals Association of North America, the New England Association of Fire Marshals, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs.

During his years of service, he was awarded the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Firefighter of the Year Award, in 1980.  He also received a number of other Certificates and Letters of Appreciation, including those from the Muscular Dystrophy Association – Lock Up, the 1995 Special Olympics, the Kiwanis Club, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), L&M Hospital, the Elks Club and the St. Mary of the Sea Reading Program.

James G. Wino

James Wino spent his Fire Service career serving with the Waterford Fire Engine Co. No. 1, beginning in 1948, including being the Chief of the Department from 1959 through 1974.  Commensurately with his role as Chief, he was also the President of the Waterford Ambulance Association and the town’s Deputy Fire Marshal.

Chief Wino served the Connecticut State Firefighters Association as New London County Vice President.  He also served on the Board that created the rules and criteria for the establishment of the Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention and Control.  Wino also served as a Commissioner with the CFPC.

He was a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Service Instructors, served as a Past President and is a Life Member of the New London County Fire Chiefs Association and held membership in the New England Association of Fire Chiefs.

Also active in Firefighter Training, he served the Eastern Connecticut Fire Training School (Willimantic) in a number of roles, including Instructor, Board Secretary and President of the Board of Directors.

During his time of service, he received numerous local awards, including those from the Waterford Fire Engine Co. No. 1, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, the Brotherhood of Paternal Elks and the Korean Wartime Veterans.  He was also bestowed with the State of Connecticut’s Wartime Veteran Service Medal.

Nomination Forms are encouraged and are available by clicking this link. Nominations can be submitted at any time. Traditionally, there is a cutoff date, during the month of November. Nominations are then reviewed and those selected, for induction, are notified during the following January. The annual induction dinner/ceremony is traditionally held the following April. The submitted nomination packet describes the nominee’s positions, deeds, accomplishments, awards of distinction, lengths of service and other pertinent information – including, but not limited to other worthwhile community services and recognitions.

Headshots may be submitted by email to webmaster@csfa.org.