Maryland State

FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION

Chief Chaplain Emeritus Rev. J. Harvey Dixon Chaplain of the Year Award

Award Purpose:

Recognition of Emergency Service Chaplains for distinguished service to the Maryland State Firefighters Association (MSFA), to an individual’s department or county fire or rescue service and their local community, or a combination of these jurisdictions.

Award Sponsor:

Maryland State Firefighters Association

Award Administration:

The Chaplain of the Year Committee of the Maryland State Firefighters Association

Award Description:

Chief Chaplain Emeritus Reverend J. Harvey Dixion dedicated his life to Fire Service Chaplaincy. He was a founding Charter Member of the Federation of Fire Chaplains, Chief Chaplain for Maryland State Firemen’s Association, Chaplain for Eastern Shore of Maryland Firemen’s Association, and Chaplain for Salisbury Fire Department. He served as the Federation of Fire Chaplains Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for Delaware Maryland-New Jersey-New York-Pennsylvania-Virginia-West Virginia. On September 11, 2001 he was called to the Pentagon disaster, and later served at Ground-Zero in New York City, and at Shanksville Pennsylvania. He supported his local fire department of Salisbury and other departments across the state where he was called. Chief Chaplain Emeritus, Reverend J. Harvey Dixon was frequently called to support the Salisbury Police Department, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Department and the Maryland State Police. He served his community and was truly a chaplain who “served those who served.”

Background: The Chaplain of the Year Award was established by the Maryland State Firefighters Association Executive Committee in 2024. The award is to recognize the distinguished service of individuals, “serving those who serve others,” Emergency Service Chaplains. The award emphasizes distinguished service to the MSFA, to the individual’s department and local jurisdiction.

Award Rules:

Nominations submitted for consideration must follow the following requirements: Beginning in the year 2025, the MSFA Chaplain of the Year Committee will begin accepting nominations. Nominee must serve or have served as a chaplain of a department/company, county association, or the Maryland State Firefighters Association. Nominee may be either living or deceased.

Nominations may be submitted by:

A member department/company in good standing with the MSFA, or
Any individual in good standing with a member department/company in good standing with the MSFA, or
An individual member of the MSFA Chaplain Corps or MSFA Leadership.
Nominees must have a minimum of ten (10) years of service as a chaplain to be eligible for consideration.
Nomination for the Chaplain of the Year Award should be based upon distinguished service to the MSFA, to an individual department/company, county association, or county Emergency Service.
All nominations must be received, in writing or electronical, by the Chairperson of the Chaplain of the Year Award Committee, by April 15th of each year to be considered. Until selected, a letter of nomination for an individual must be submitted each year. Nomination letters will not be carried over from year to year. All nomination letters must be submitted on company/department letterhead and signed.
Nominations for the Chief Chaplain Emeritus Rev. J. Harvey Dixon Chaplain of the Year Award will be judged by a committee that is established by the Chief Chaplain of the MSFA.
The award will be awarded to the Chaplain who receives 51% of the vote by the Chaplain of the Year Committee. All nominees will receive a certificate of recognition from the Maryland State Firefighters Association for being nominated.
Individual selected for the MSFA Chaplain of the Year Award will receive the Chief Chaplain Emeritus Rev. J. Harve Dixon Chaplain of the Year plaque. The plaque will have the date of the award, name and fire company of the recipient engraved thereon and will, for one year from date of presentation until the next MSFA Annual Convention and Conference. A personal plaque will be presented to the individual selected to keep forever. A uniform ribbon will also be presented. The Chaplain of the Year Award presentation will take place at the Annual Convention and Conference of the MSFA.
The name of the individual selected for the Chaplain of the Year Award shall be published in the Annual Proceedings Book of the MSFA along with the year the selection was made.

Submission of nominations shall be by the USPS or electronical to:

Chief Chaplain John F. Long, Jr.
Chaplain of the Year Award Committee
343 Cool Breeze Road
Pasadena, MD 21122

or

jflongjr@yahoo.com

Partners of the MSFA

Proud to Partner With:

Maryland State

Firefighters Association

2130 Priest Bridge Dr #4
Crofton, MD 21114

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