LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD) held its 97th Annual Installation of Officers on Jan. 4, 2025, celebrating decades of service and recognizing members for their dedication to the community.
Several notable awards and milestones were highlighted during the evening, including the induction of nine members into Lifetime Membership, an honor reserved for individuals with 25 years of service. Members recognized for this achievement were Foo Tippet, Robbie Abell, Charlie Cooksey, Jake Mattingly, Chris Smith, Ritchie Tippet, John Trossbach, Rob Mattingly, and Kevin Miedzinski.
The department also honored members for long-term contributions, including Katherine Pilkerton and Denise Mattingly for 55 years, Frank Trossbach for 50 years of service, and Foo Tippett for 25 years in the auxiliary.
Big Awards Presented
- Probationary Firefighter of the Year: Aidan Wrightson
- Firefighter of the Year: Tyler Bagley
- Fire Chief’s Award: John Trossbach
- President’s Award: George Kalnasy Jr.
2025 Operational Officers
- Fire Chief: John Trossbach
- Assistant Fire Chief: Chris Bell
- Deputy Fire Chief: Matt McCloskey
- Captain: Mark Bell
- Captain: Tommy Mattingly Jr.
- Captain: RJ Abell
- Lieutenant: Stephen Norris
- Lieutenant: Robbie Garner
- Lieutenant: Tyler Bagley
- Safety Officer: JW Wathen
- Chief’s Aide: Chris Smith
2025 Administrative Officers
- President: Keith Watt
- Vice President: Ritchie Tippett
- Recording Secretary: Kevin Mattingly
- Corresponding Secretary: Tommy Mattingly Sr.
- Treasurer: George Kalnasy Jr.
- Assistant Treasurer: Bobby Miedzinski
- Fire Chief: John Trossbach
- LOSAP: Chris Smith
“Please join us in congratulating our incoming officers and all our members for their achievements in 2024, and we look forward to a successful 2025 serving the community,” the department shared on Facebook.
Kevin Mattingly, Recording Secretary, noted the significance of the evening. “Chris Bell was Chief for six years. And his father, Gary Bell, was president, and both of them stepped down this year. We did mention people that have passed over the year: Betty Mason Holley and Betty Thomas, they were both in our auxiliary.”
Reflecting on the Lifetime Membership recognition, Mattingly added, “We have this thing, it’s called a lifetime number. If you’ve been around for a while, you deserve recognition. We had eight people achieve that this year.”
For more information about the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, visit lvfd1.org or follow them on Facebook.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
