This is Jon Johnson, a firefighter for the Amarillo Fire Department, who was named the Rotary Firefighter of the Year.

For the second year in a row, the Amarillo South Rotary Club has recognized an AFD firefighter for exemplary service. The award was presented Thursday morning during the club’s weekly meeting at Embassy Suites.

“Through this much-deserved recognition and honor, Amarillo South Rotary hopes to draw attention to the outstanding service these law enforcement officers have provided for the citizens of Potter and Randall counties,” the club said in a released statement.

Johnson was nominated for the award by Amarillo Fire Chief Jeff Greenlee.

“Jon honorably served our country in the Marine Corps and is a combat veteran,” Greenlee wrote in his nomination letter. “He used his background and life experiences to help develop the Amarillo Fire Department Veteran’s Support Group , a program devoted to helping combat veterans adapt and cope with some of the challenges that arise from the oftentimes stressful experiences our armed service personnel must endure.”

Firefighter Johnson serves the citizens of Amarillo as a fire driver at Fire Station No. 13, and is a committed member of the AFD Technical Rescue Team. He has spent hours developing the skills, knowledge and expertise needed to master this specialized departmental program. To help other team members’ development, he helps instruct during rescue training scenarios, Greenlee wrote.

“Johnson also serves as the AFD Honor Guard commander. This role is demanding in that Johnson, with little notice, helps compassionately plan and arrange funeral services working alongside grieving family members. Johnson coordinates these events with other Honor Guard members to ensure that the deceased fire service member is suitably and appropriately honored during his or her funeral”, Greenlee wrote.

Thank you, Firefighter Johnson, for making Amarillo residents and visitors safe on a daily basis.

Award well deserved!

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