193 Years Of Fire Service To The Community
By Doug La Rocque
That’s the number you arrive at when you add together the Goyer gentlemen’s years of service. The Grafton Volunteer Fire Department celebrated its 75th year on Saturday night, May 11, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy. It was also a night that celebrated Chief Jim Goyer’s 50th year anniversary as a member of that department, the last 40 years of which he has served as its chief. That makes him the longest tenured fire chief in Rensselaer County.
Jim’s 50 years is amazing in this day when volunteers are often scarce and very hard to come by. But that number is dwarfed by Jim’s dad Harold, who has served the department and his community for 71 years. Not far behind Jim is his brother Rick, who has 47 years of service. Add in Jim’s son Jay, who has 25 years under his belt, and you come up with 193 years of firefighting.
The Chief was also honored that night by Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin and 107th District NYS Assemblyman Jake Ashby, who both stopped by to hand Jim a proclamation in his honor. State Senator Daphne Jordan was unable to make the banquet, but sent her best wishes as well.
Lest we forget, the Grafton Fire Department Auxiliary was also given its just kudos. Here, Samantha Crandall was honored for her 20 years of membership.
Installed for his 41st year as Chief was Jim Goyer, First Assistant Chief Rick Goyer, and 2nd Assistant Chief was Jay Goyer. Fire Captain is Justin Levsha, and Auxiliary President once again is Noelle Goyer.
Helping Out a Fallen Firefighter
Captain Justin Levsha was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident just days before the banquet, and is now facing numerous surgeries on his road to recovery. The Department will conduct a boot drive in front of the old Lena’s Restaurant on Memorial Day, Monday May 27 from 9 am to 1 pm. Other donations, whether monetary or gift cards, can be sent to the Grafton Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 134, Grafton, NY 12082.