Citizen of the Year 'Humbled' by Recognition

To Rusty Bridle, Tuesday night started like every other Hampton Rotary Club awards night he's attended.

Bridle, whose accomplishments and roles in the community are almost too long to list, arrived speech in hand, ready to present an award to another resident and spend some time with dear friends.

It wasn't until member after member got up to tell stories about one of Hampton's favorite firefighters and the town's go-to Santa Claus that it dawned on him: They were there for him, to honor him as this year's Citizen of the Year.

"It was a surprise, that's for sure," said Bridle, a retired fire captain, founder of the Hampton Firefighters Toy Bank, Experience Hampton board member, former state representative, and current member of the Hampton School Board. "I had no clue it was about me."

Bridle has also served as an assistant scout master in Hampton Boy Scout Troop 177 — a troop in which he once was a boy scout — and plays an active role in the planning of Hampton's 375th anniversary celebration scheduled for this summer, among other things.

Despite all of his very public roles and duties, Bridle isn't the type to seek the spotlight or get involved in a cause for the recognition. Many individuals spoke Tuesday — from Rotary President John Nyhan, Vice President Larry Marsolais, State Sen. Nancy Stiles, local realtor and friend Bob Preston, 401 Tavern owner and last year's Citizen of the Year Dan "Desi" Lanio, and more — to that level of selfless while honoring Bridle with the award, for which Bridle said he's incredibly grateful.

"There were so many things that really it was quite humbling," said Bridle, who said his 30-year career as a firefighter is his proudest accomplishment because of all of the people he's been able to help. "I'm pretty humbled. I do a lot of things behind the scenes. I've always tried to be like that... to try and make Hampton that better place.

"I told one of the firefighters who lived in town when he was hired, 'You've just been given a blessing and a curse. The blessing is you live in this town and when you help out a family, you're helping a family you know and you can be there with that family and it's a joyous time. The curse is, you're going to go out on call and know that family and be with them when something bad happens and grieve with them. I've been a part of a lot of happy events, and I've been a part of a lot of sad events. It's how you deal with them that makes you a better person."

Many individuals have congratulated Bridle on his award over the past couple of days, with many calling the achievement a "must-deserved" honor.

The following are among several dozen posts on social media sites about Bridle's award:

Sophia Spainhower Congratulations Rusty! You're one of the reasons everyone is so proud to live in a town like ours keep up the good work!

JoAnne Hutchings Congrats Rusty!! you are very loved here in this home and we were very thankful to be invited to be there with you!! love you Rusty!!

Nicholas Bridle You are definitely deserving of this award dad, you are a big reason that Hampton is such an awesome town to live in, visit, or claim as home. I am so proud of the work you've done and what you will continue to do! Congrats!

Marvelann Swartz It's always great when the good guys win.

Erin Hutchings Congratulations Rusty Bridle I can not think of a more deserving person!

Bridle said his next focus is making the 375th anniversary the "biggest and best celebration we've had in a long time," as well as making sure the Memorial Day Parade and other Experience Hampton events are as big and great as they can be.

You "can never know what comes up," though, said Bridle, and just like during his career as a firefighter Bridle said he's ready to rush in on the front lines should he be needed.

"I'll go do what they need me to do," said Bridle.