Troy's Firefighter Of Year Is 33-Year Vet

TROY, MI — A well-known face around town is Troy’s Firefighter of the Year. Volunteer Gary Wood, who also served in the Troy School District for nearly four decades, has been named the department’s top firefighter.

“You go into this because you want to do something positive,” Wood told the Troy Times. “You don’t do this unless you like and trust the guys you’re with.”

He has been a volunteer at the city station No. 5 for some 33 years. Wood told the newspaper that more experienced firefighters took him under their wing when he started out. Now he enjoys doing the same for today’s new firefighters.

“I’ve always enjoyed that aspect,” Wood told the Times. “Now that I’m retired, I have more time to do that. I’m very fortunate.”

He will be honored at an awards banquet later this month. It won’t be his first time to receive recognition from the department.

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Wood has received several awards, including Station Member of the Year for Station 5, two safe driving awards, two merit awards and a unit commendation, the newspaper reported. He is a top responder from Station 5 and has held the ranks of station lieutenant, station captain and station assistant chief.

“They (the nominees) were all fine examples,” Troy Fire Chief Dave Roberts told the Times. “It’s never an easy decision. The supporting information was so compelling. Gary has shone a little brighter than the others this year.”

Wood was principal of Costello Elementary in Troy for most of his 39 years with the district. He was encouraged to get into firefighting by a former fire inspector. Wood said he was humbled by his nomination for the department’s top honor.

“I’m very grateful for the officers that did this,” he told the newspaper. “It’s humbling. We get great administrative support from the top. We need that as well.”

Photo courtesy of the Troy Fire Department