Spotlight on First Responders

Styx River Volunteer Fire Department holds annual awards dinner

Submitted release
Posted 12/7/18

STYX RIVER, Alabama — Firefighters and their families gathered at the Styx River fire station recently for fellowship, a hearty meal (cooked by the firefighters) and awards presented by Deputy …

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Spotlight on First Responders

Styx River Volunteer Fire Department holds annual awards dinner

Posted

STYX RIVER, Alabama — Firefighters and their families gathered at the Styx River fire station recently for fellowship, a hearty meal (cooked by the firefighters) and awards presented by Deputy Chief Hubert Dunbar.

Firefighter of the Year was awarded to Darryl McGill, 59, a 17-year veteran of the volunteer fire service. Depending on the community where he resided – Gateswood, Rosinton and for the past three years, Styx River – he has been an active member, performing all tasks, including instructing younger firefighters.

McGill is employed by Middleton Auto Parts in Robertsdale. He has one daughter, Dinah, and a stepson, Dillon.

New this year is a special award given to a young firefighter and Cole Dunbar, 17, was the recipient of the Junior Firefighter of the Year award. Dunbar has been around firefighters his entire life. Parents, Courtney and Beth Dunbar, plus grandparents, Hubert and Alice Dunbar, are all active members at Styx River.

With additional training, Dunbar will become a full firefighter when he turns 18. At 21 years of age, he will be able to drive a firetruck.

He attends Robertsdale High School, and loves working on automobiles at the family's business. Brother, Kyle, 12, can’t wait until he turns 16 to become a junior firefighter.

Currently, the department has five juniors from firefighter families, looking forward to their 18th birthdays.

“When it’s hard to find volunteers, we’re growing ours,” said Hubert Dunbar, with a smile.

Also, at the dinner, 20-year service awards were presented to Tyler Glenn, treasurer and Joyce Glenn, vice president, on the board of directors.

Neither had firefighting skills when they joined in 1998. Each had retired and felt the need to serve the community when they moved from Charlotte, North Carolina, to the Styx River community.

Joyce Glenn had been in the healthcare field which was beneficial for the department’s medical calls. Both are natives of Alabama, Tyler Glenn from Birmingham and Joyce Glenn from Opelika.

The department’s 31 members extends an invitation to the community to consider membership with an opportunity to serve others.