FAIRBORN — The Blue Coat Awards were instituted by Fairborn Council 3724, Knights of Columbus, in 1973 to honor police officers and firefighters in recognition of service to the community. It recently held the annual awards ceremony, celebrating individuals from the Fairborn police and fire departments, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Fairborn Municipal Court and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
The Fairborn Council 3724, Knights of Columbus, 2016–2017 Blue Coat of the Year Awards honorees included the following:
– Ohio State Patrol Xenia Post Trooper Award to Trooper Ron Dear;
– Fairborn Police Officer Award to Officer Jim Hern;
– Fairborn Firefighter Award to Firefighter Dan Wolfe;
– Fairborn Municipal Employee Award to Deputy Clerk Beth Gambill;
– Greene County Sheriff ’s Deputy Award to Deputy Chris Moore;
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Security Forces Security Police Officer Award to TSGT Jesse Armstrong;
– WPAFB Firefighter Award to Firefighter Jared Spaeth;
– WPAFB Wounded Warrior Award to Technical Sergeant Deondra Parks;
– Volunteer Award to Percy J. Gros Jr.;
– Youth Award to Heather Milliron;
– Scout Award to Johnathon Karhoff;
– Citizen of the Year Award to K of C Supreme Council Insurance Representative Dennis P. Kelly.
Fairborn Patrolman Raymond E. Liebherr, who later became Fairborn Police Chief, and Fairborn Firefighter Edward H. Heigal were the first Blue Coat Award recipients. Fairborn Council 3724 later expanded honors to include additional community service personnel and citizens from the City of Fairborn, Greene County Sheriff’s Department, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Wright State University and the Xenia Post of the Ohio State Patrol.
Fairborn Police Chief Terry Barlow, Fairborn Fire Department Chief Mike Riley, Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer, Fairborn Municipal Court Judge Beth W. Cappelli, former Fairborn Mayor and current Fairborn Police Advisory Council Member Tom Nagel are Past Blue Coat Award Honorees.
During the March 23 ceremony, Grand Knight M. Russell Milliron welcomed the approximately 165 dignitaries, honorees, members, widows and guests in attendance.
Past Grand Knight John Wolfe called upon Fairborn Mayor Dan Kirkpatrick, who read a proclamation and presented it to Grand Knight Milliron naming March 23, 2017 as “Knights of Columbus Blue Coat Awards Day” in Fairborn. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base 88th Air Base Wing and Installation Commander Colonel Bradley McDonald delivered opening remarks. Ohio Senator Bob Hackett, Ohio Representative Rick Perales, Greene County Commission Bob Glaser and Ohio State Council K of C State Warden Larry Droesch of Wilmington also provided opening remarks.
Milliron presented each honoree with a plaque and Senator Bob Hackett presented Ohio Senate Certificates, Ohio Representative Rick Perales presented Ohio House of Representatives Certificates and Commissioner Bob Glaser presented Greene County Board of Commissioners Resolutions to each honoree. Beavercreek Township Trustee Tom Kretz also presented Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Moore with a certificate of appreciation from the township trustees.
