Ray Walendzack Award
Recipients of the Instructor of the Year Award
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1974 - Jack Pyle - Columbus Fire Dept.
1975 - Fred Trager - Chemist, PPG, Barberton, Ohio
1976 - M. Shad Hanna - Bowling Green
1977 - Chief Merit Smith - Bryan Fire Dept.
1978 - Chief Lewis Taylor - Swanton Fire Dept.
1979 - Capt. Robert Marihugh - Defiance Fire Dept.
1980 - Capt. Charles Goliver - Defiance Fire Dept.
1981 - Ed Ruffennach - National Foam
1982 - Ed Ellis - Toledo Edison
1983 - Punk Zwiebel - Wapakoneta Fire Dept.
1984 - Sam Blackwood - New Departure / Hyatt
1985 - Chief Ed Gassert - Evandale Fire Dept.
Ray Walendzack Award
1986 - Nancy Lewis - BGSU
1987 - Chief Ray Walendzack - Oregon Fire Dept.
1988 - Chief Dan Johnson - Allen Twp. Fire Dept.
1989 - Don Schimmoller - Retired Fire Chief, Delphos
1990 - Carl Pike - Bowling Green Fire Dept.
1991 - Frank Potts - Retired, T & I Training Coordinator
1992 - Claren “Mouse” Maurer - Swanton Fire Dept.
1993 - Robert Warimont - Perrysburg Twp. Fire Dept.
1994 - Chief Donald Sours - Green Spring Fire Dept.
1995 - Lt. Michael Gustwiller - Holgate Fire Dept.
1996 - Chief Darrell Chapman - Cridersville Fire Dept.
1997 - Chief Ed Bauer - Gibsonburg Fire Dept.
1998 - Chief Chris Agnew - Wapakoneta Fire Dept.
1999 - Fonda Pike - Bowling Green
2000 - Clarence “Sam” Bohn - Retired Defiance Fire Dept.
2001 - Ed Lowry -Past President – OPGA
2002 - Chief Dean Bailey - New London Fire Dept.
2003 - Chief James B. Steele - Dunkirk Fire Dept.
2004 - Chief James M Steele - Van Wert Fire Dept.
2005 - Gene Davis - Perry Twp. Fire Dept.
2006 - Wayne Suever - Retired Fire Chief, Delphos
2007 - Ron Townsend - Retired Bowling Green Fire Dept.
2008 - Rick Spiess - Liberty Center Fire Dept.
2009 - John Yust - Johnville Fire Dept.
2010 - Chuck Hudson - Retired Chief, Delta Fire Dept
2011 - Tammy Firsdon - Cygnet
2012 - Chief Daryl McNutt - Whitehouse Fire Dept.
2013 - Karen Weber - BGSU
2014 - Robert Wesche - Jewell Fire Dept.
2015 - Jim Tansey - Wakeman Fire Dept.
2016 - Chief Brian Baker - Liberty Center Fire Dept.
2017 - William “Blue” Armatrout - Willard Fire Dept.
2018 - Brad Gilbert - Harris-Elmore Fire Dept.
2019 - Ed Bohn - South Richland Fire Dept.
2020 - Bill Elwood - Hicksville Fire Dept
2021 - Fred Allen - Asst. Chief, Wauseon Fire Dept.
2022 - Tim Schroeder - Retired Bowling Green Fire Dept.
2023 - Richard Browne Atlantic Emergency Services
2024 – Richard Arquette Gibsonburg Fire Dept.