Richard L. Best This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. The Marietta Times: Emergency personnel recognized

   www.mariettatimes.com/news/sto - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/22/2006   Last Visited: 3/23/2006

   Marc Coppernoll, of the Marietta Fire Department; and Richard L. Best, vice president of the Devola Volunteer Fire Department.
   ...
   Though they appreciate being recognized for their service, Walters, Coppernoll and Best said they do their jobs because they love helping people, not for the recognition.
   ...
   You're just out there doing your job and when it (recognition) comes you're deeply appreciative," Best said.

2. 2. The Marietta Times: Area firefighters to display skills - - The Marietta Times

   www.themariettatimes.com/news/ - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/12/2002   Last Visited: 10/6/2002

   "Over the years, I've seen a decline of participants in volunteer fire departments, yet caseloads have increased," said Capt. Richard Best of the Devola Volunteer Fire Department, who helped organize the event. "This is a way to show the public we're there to help you, we're there to help our communities."
   
   Best said the friendly competition is a way to reach out to promote local departments and get new recruits. In addition to the more than 80 volunteer firefighters from 16 departments, he said FirePower 2001 also helped recruit nearly 20 new firefighters for area crews.
   
   Of the 18 fire departments in Washington County, only Marietta is staffed with paid firefighters. The rest are volunteers.
   ...
   Walker and Best both said volunteer fire departments face dwindling ranks and the task of trying to raise public awareness of the need for more volunteers.
   ...
   Best said the competition stemmed from a recruitment campaign known as "Fill These Boots" that kicked off last year when he approached officials at Clear Channel Radio about airing public service announcements urging people to consider volunteering with their local fire department.
   
   Washington County volunteer firefighters from Belpre, Oak Grove, Devola, Salem Township and Reno participated in last year's event. The team from Salem Township placed second behind Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, followed by Eastwood Volunteer Fire Department in Wood County.
   
   Teams will compete in three timed events, including the "Wake Up and Go," "Water Bucket Brigade" and "Roll Your Own" contests.

3. 3. The Marietta Times: The sweet side of summer - - The Marietta Times

   www.mariettatimes.com/news/sto - [Cached]

   Last Visited: 7/10/2004

   "A lot of departments really count on these socials," said Richard Best, chief of Devola Volunteer Fire Department.
   ...
   That's what the event is called," Best said.