On Saturday, January 25th, the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary installed their 2025 Administrative and Operational Officers, and recognized several members for their contributions during 2024.

Joe Cooper, Past President of the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association, swore in the Administrative Officers, Board of Directors, Operational Officers, and Engineers. Becky Wathen, Past President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Southern Maryland Volunteer’s Firemen’s Association and the Maryland State Firemen’s Association, swore in the Auxiliary Officers.

2025 Administrative Officers
President – Ron Hafner
Vice President – Chris Bender
Secretary - Bonnie Ridgell
Assistant Secretary - Carley Hadley
Treasurer – Rob Dodge, Sr.

2025 Board of Directors
Ron Hafner
Chris Bender
Bonnie Ridgell
Rob Dodge, Sr.
Brian Cooper
Philip "Heavy" Ridgell
Allen Raley
Francis Raley
John "Peanut" Gatton
Robb Bickel
Johnny Wathen

2025 Operational Officers
Chief - Brian Cooper
Assistant Chief - Bradley Cooper
Deputy Chief - Francis Raley
Captain 4 – Scot Best
Lieutenant 4 – Robb Bickel
Lieutenant 4A - Rob Dodge, Sr.
Sergeant 4: Steve “Stevie” Gatton, Jr.
Health/Safety Officer 4 - Phil Cooper
Incident Safety Officer 4A - Tom Trossbach
Incident Safety Officer 4B – Darius Hawkins
Chief Engineer - John "Peanut" Gatton
Engineer – Steve Bradburn
Engineer - Charlie Langley
Engineer - Keith Raley
Engineer - Tony Ridgell
Engineer – Ray Mercure
Engineer – John Ridgell

2025 Auxiliary Officers
President - Debbie Fairfax
Vice President - Jessica Snyder
Recording Secretary - Darlene Wood
Corresponding Secretary - Lisa Gibbs
Treasurer – Laura Cook

After the swearing in of the Officers and dinner, the awards ceremony followed with acknowledgement of members’ achievements. Congratulations to the following 2024 award recipients:

President's Award: Leon “Dictator” Cullison, Robb Bickel

Chief’s Award: Leon “Dictator” Cullison

Chief’s “Brotherhood in Action” Award: Holton Bickel, Jonathan Boley, Kermit Tillett

Firefighter of the Year: Robb Bickel

Rookie of the Year: Kermit Tillett

Engineer of the Year: Johnny Morrison, Robbie Wood

Joseph C. Titus Public Safety and Fire Prevention Award: Jessica Synder

Top 10 Responders (includes stand-by support):
1. Keith Raley (267 alarms)
2. Heavy Ridgell (242 alarms)
3. Tony Ridgell (226 alarms)
4. Francis Raley (210 alarms)
5. Ron Hafner (206 alarms)
6. Scot Best (188 alarms)
7. Johnny Morrison (179 alarms)
8. Robb Bickel (176 alarms)
9. Tyler Dodge (174 alarms)
10. Robbie Wood (168 alarms)

Top Apparatus Responders (rode apparatus to the incident):
1. Keith Raley (167 alarms)
2. Francis Raley (143 alarms)
3. Brian Cooper (113 alarms)
4. Tyler Dodge (107 alarms)
5. Bradley Cooper (101 alarms)
6. Scot Best (93 alarms)
7. Ron Hafner (91 alarms)
8. Robb Bickel (88 alarms)
9. Johnny Morrison (87 alarms)
10. Charlie Russell (64 alarms)

Length of Service Awards (Operations):
5 years: David Cullison
10 years: Michael Balta, Jannet Keister
15 years: Carley Hadley, Charlie Langley, Danny Reppel
20 years: Matt Langford
30 Years: Kathy Keister, Leroy Owens
35 Years: Tom Trossbach
45 Years: Tony Ridgell, Johnny Morrison
50 Years: Jimmy Cooper, Francis Raley, Heavy Ridgell, Robbie Wood
55 Years: Danny Gatton

Length of Service Awards (Associates):
15 years: Freida Franklin, Dawn Gatton, Lisa Gibbs, Shannon Langley, Tracy Owens, Mary “Snookie” Raley, Bonnie Ridgell, Cheryl Ridgell, Wanda Trossbach, Becky Wathen

Length of Service Award (Auxiliary):
40 Years: Dawn Gatton, Becky Wathen

Auxiliary Service Member Award: Scot Best

A Special Recognition Award was given to Johnny Wathen in appreciation of his 20 years of service as the Department Treasure.

Auxiliary President Debbie Fairfax and Vice President Jessica Snyder presented the Department with several new tools and life-saving equipment for our membership. These items included: 50 Snagger Tools, 50 Guardian Angel wearable safety lights, and two gas meters with calibration systems. Additionally, they picked up the bill for the Department’s 2024 Christmas Party social event. In total, the Auxiliary provided approx. $22,000 worth of goods and services!

The Officers and members of the Ridge VFD and Auxiliary would like to thank our Master of Ceremonies, Former St. Mary's County Commissioner Dan Raley for the laughs, Bailey’s Catering for the amazing food, DJ Wild Wes for the great tunes, and Mary Franklin (Moonlight Ridge Photography) for the great pictures. A special thanks to the members of Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad for covering our area during the installation and awards banquet.