REEDSVILLE — For 40 years, Clinton B. Adkins and his wife Judy have been involved in the Reedsville Volunteer Fire Department.
This year, they are representing Preston County as King Fireman LXXI and Lady Fireman XXVIII at the 77th Preston County Buckwheat Festival. Sept. 27 is Firemen’s Day at the festival.
Adkins was born in Hinton and his wife in Masontown. She is owner of Valley Business Services. He retired from Swanson’s five years ago and has been pastor of the Concord Community Church, near Birds Creek, for 27 years.
The Adkinses said when photographer J.L. Cook took their picture for this year’s Buckwheat Festival program, they were surprised to learn they were the first King and Lady Fireman husband and wife Cook had ever photographed.
“I’m currently the safety officer and treasurer,” of RVFD, Adkins said. “I’ve been president, assistant chief, secretary and held several other positions over the years.”
Judy Adkins said she has been in the ladies auxiliary since the RVFD’s reorganization eight years ago. She is serving as vice president and ladies bash food chairman. “I’ve been involved with the VFD for 40 years,” she said.
“I am very honored to have been chosen as King Fireman because it doesn’t just represent the firemen. It represents everyone,” Adkins said. “My friend was injured on the way to a fire and was paralyzed. So I stand for those who were injured and killed. That’s why I take the safety part of my job so seriously.”
Judy Adkins also takes her position in the auxiliary to heart.
“I was shocked when I learned I had been chosen as Lady Fireman,” she said. “I feel privileged and honored to have been chose as Lady Fireman”
She said other than helping the department with some of its expenses, the auxiliary provides activities for local children.
“We hold community activities for the children on Easter, Halloween and Christmas. This is a service we do to give back to the community.”
“Forty years ago, you had the guys in the field train the new men,” Adkins said. “You learned from them. But now it has become more complicated. We old guys are trying to hold it together. The job demands a lot from you. The training and the hours, but you do it because you care.”
Adkins said the auxiliary is looking for new members. They have only five. The auxiliary meets at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Reedsville Fire Hall.
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