The Chief Chaplain Emeritus Rev. J. Harvey
Dixon Chaplain of the Year Award
Tuesday, June 23, 2026: Chief Chaplain
Emeritus Rev. Harvey J. Dixon Chaplain of the Year Award
2026-S3 Maryland State Firefighters
Association Convention
The Chaplain award begins at 2:31 on the
morning segment of the MSFA convention. https://www.youtube.com/live/e_E00yXhceg?si=GQg7pYDAv0pk5Qb-&t=9073
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_E00yXhceg
Tuesday, June 23, 2026: The Chief Chaplain
Emeritus Rev. J. Harvey Dixon Chaplain of the Year Award goes to Westminster
Fire Engine and Hose Co. No. 1 Chaplain Kevin Dayhoff.
The Chief Chaplain Emeritus Rev. J. Harvey
Dixon Chaplain of the Year Award is an annual honor established in 2024 by the
Maryland State Firefighters Association (MSFA).
The "Chief Chaplain Emeritus Reverend J.
Harvey Dixon Chaplain of the Year Award" is presented by the Maryland
State Firemen's Association to honor outstanding fire service chaplains in the
state.
The official recipients include: 2025: Chris
Windsor (Nanjemoy Volunteer Fire Department, Charles County.) 2024: Not
awarded. 2023: Karen Montgomery (Bryans Road, Charles County)
Purpose and Background Dedicated to: Reverend
J. Harvey Dixon, a pioneering figure in Fire Service Chaplaincy and Charter
Member of the Federation of Fire Chaplains.
His Legacy: Rev. Dixon served as Chief
Chaplain for the MSFA and responded to the Pentagon and Shanksville, PA on
September 11, 2001, as well as at Ground Zero.
The Award: Created by the MSFA Executive
Committee to recognize outstanding chaplaincy and pastoral support within the
emergency services community.
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.
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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:
1. A member department/company in good
standing with the MSFA, or
2. Any individual in good standing with a
member department/company in good standing with the MSFA, or
3. An individual member of the MSFA Chaplain
Corps or MSFA Leadership.
4. Nominees must have a minimum of ten (10)
years of service as a chaplain to be eligible for consideration.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
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