The Nashville Fire Department’s Fireman of the Year for 2023 has been a member of the department since 2020.
By the time he joined and completed his training at the Arkansas Fire Academy, his brother, Josh, had already won the honor twice.
Lee Worley received the honor.
Nashville firemen select the award recipient by a secret ballot.
The firefighters are asked to write down on a piece of paper who is most deserving. There is only one round of voting.
At the recent annual awards banquet, Fire Marshal Justin Thornton described the 2023 winner as a real asset to the community.
Other recognition was a feature of the annual banquet.
Fireman Bobby Chambers received a 30-year service pin; and Jimmy Mixon retired with 28 years of service. Mixon’s retirement plaque was unusual — it was a replica of a fire axe.
Other awards included the following:
Officers’ Choice Award – Nathan Hodges. The honoree is selected by the fire chief, assistant chief and captains.
Bryce Petty received the Attendance Award for attending most firecalls and drills.
Fire Marshal Thornton said, “We have a great group of firefighters.”
Since the Fireman of the Year Award was started, winners have been:
1987 Roy Blakely
1988 James Daniel
1989 Terry Ray
1990 James Dyer
1991 Cliff Petty
1992 Ronny Woods
1993 Jerry Harwell
1994 Cliff Petty
1995 Roy Blakely
1996 Jimmy Mixon
1997 Bobby Chambers
1998 Jimmy Mixon
1999 Joe Dallas
2000 Gary Funderburk
2001 Alfred Neeley
2002 Matt Smith
2003 Mike Kinkade
2004 Terry Ray
2005 Matt Smith
2006 Jeff Westfall
2007 Jeff Westfall
2008 Jimmy Mixon
2009 Jeff Westfall
2010 Jeff Westfall
2011 Jeff Westfall
2012 Josh Worley
2013 Josh Worley
2014 Russell Sparks
2015 Andrew Westfall
2016 Michael Staten
2017 Kenton Miller
2018 Michael Staten
2019 Kenton Miller
2020 Zachary Miller
2021 Kelly Hostetler
2022 Kelly Hostetler
2023 Lee Worley
