Dallas County honors first responders with Appreciation Day event, photo gallery

The Dallas County First Responders Appreciation Day was held on Jan. 26 at Elkdale Baptist Church in Selma.

The 2023 Heroes for various departments were honored and volunteers fed first responders as a thank you for their work for the community.

The hero for Dallas County Sheriff’s Office is Kendall Motley. Selma Police department’s hero is Robert Tyus.

The State Troopers recognized their 2024 hero Adric Reed.

Selma Fire named Austen Dawson their hero for the year. EMS hero is Crystal Pettway, and

Potter’s Station honored their hero Donnie Lee Ross.

Volunteers from at least 12 churches gathered to provide a hot meal of spaghetti and salad or hot dogs to emergency service workers and their families. The Dallas County Disaster Relief team offered prayers in private for those who wished to receive them. Vaughan Regional Medical Center staff were also in attendance providing health resources, blood pressure, and blood sugar tests. Gideon international representatives also had a small booth giving gift bags and Bibles. Judge Jimmy Nunn was also seen in attendance during the meal and award ceremony.

After lunch, attendees, speakers, and volunteers gathered in Elkdale’s sanctuary for the award ceremony. Rev. John Braley welcomed those in attendance with Lee Tate doing devotion on behalf of Dr. Ryan Skiebe. Pastor David Nichols presented the family of Jamryon Hope with the Fallen Hero Recognition certificate, prayed and introduced the award ceremony of certificates of appreciation. 

More from this section

Judge dismisses Lively sex harassment claim against Baldoni

Bushehr: Iran's only nuclear power plant

Hungary's opposition surfs grassroots wave ahead of key election

“It was kind of the time frame law enforcement was getting a really bad reputation, not deserving. But I thought maybe if we could get some of us together and, maybe, show everybody how much we appreciate and we are standing behind you, we are here for you.” 

Wayne Odom start the event in 2017 by inviting retired law enforcement officers to gather at Northside Baptist. “They would eat a little bit, all of a sudden more came in and more came in.”

The group would reminisce, he said. “It was just a fellowship for law enforcement, to make them feel a little better.”

By the third year, they expanded to first responders, fire department, and volunteer fire department. Organizers Kathy Smith and Gene Hisel grew it to become much bigger.

“She’s blown this thing out so bad you wouldn’t believe it,” Odom said. “That was the original thought though, was just to let law enforcement know that they did have a lot of people behind them, just to kind of lift them up.”

Wayne Odom hopes it gets bigger every year, since the awards are well deserved. 

Smith is glad they added first responders. 

“We want every first responder to know that we are praying for them, we thank them, we love them, and we appreciate them,” she said. “This is only one day that we can really serve them because they serve us every day and every night. We just cover them in our prayers and we want them to know that we pray for them daily and nightly.”