July 26, 2018 - Over last week nearly 700 firefighters attended the 113th Louisiana State Fireman’s Association Annual Conference. Taking place over five days beginning with H.O.T. Drills (hands on training), then the official start of the conference began last Thursday evening with opening ceremony and dedication of the conference. The conference was dedicated to three men, all from Joaquin.
The first dedication was to the late Mike Wood of the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Dept. Mr. Wood served as firefighter, Training officer, and Fire Chief of the department through his over thirty year fire service career and served for over almost thirty years as a guest instructor at the prestigious Texas A&M Municipal Fire School. Charles Metcalf said, “Personally speaking, he is the reason for my nearly 26 year career in the fire service.”
The next dedication was to two men, almost legends around Joaquin High School. The conference was then dedicated to Shane and Dakota Metcalf, both of Joaquin. Shane and Dakota are the sons of Charles and the late Joyce Metcalf, also “little brothers” of Charlie and Jimmy Metcalf. Shane’s most favorite times were playing “waterboy” or “coach” if you asked him to the mighty Joaquin Rams and those times have not changed a bit. Dakota’s best memories of Joaquin was helping at the school and being friendly to everyone he met, most importantly Taylor Wilkerson.
The Mike Wood Memorial Scholarship received a contribution to remember the dedication, while Shane and Dakota both received plaques to remember this day.
