From left, Adams Area Fire District Vice President Bob Lytle, Jeff Leonberg, Alice Leonberg and President Jason Safreed attend the Adams Area Fire District banquet Saturday night in the township. The district presented the Lowry “Butch” Leonberg Award to the late firefighter's family and Fire Chief Bill Hayes at the banquet.

ADAMS TWP — A new award among those given Saturday night at the annual Adams Area Fire District banquet at 12 Oaks Mansion touched the hearts of those who knew its namesake.

The Lowry “Butch” Leonberg Award was given in honor of the late firefighter and a lifetime member of the fire district who died last summer.

Leonburg served as assistant chief from 1962 to 1979 at the then-Mars Volunteer Fire Department, and he spent each Memorial Day placing flags in the cemeteries that have the remains of Mars firefighter.

“The award is to honor him as he honored all of them,” said Jason Safreed, fire district president.

Two awards were made so one could be given to the Leonberg family and one to the winner, Fire Chief Bill Hayes, who was chosen by Safreed.

“The award is going to be given every year to a company member who takes pride in what we are and what we do,” Safreed said. “Chief Hayes has an unbelievable amount of pride in the Adams Area Fire District, so I thought he deserved it.”

Safreed said only he and one other company member knew about the Leonberg Award, including the Leonberg family, who attended the banquet.

“The family was very emotional because he just passed away around the Labor Day weekend,” Safreed said. “All 140 people there gave a standing ovation for the family receiving the award.”

He said the award will be handed out by the Leonberg family in the future.

Safreed selected the initial winner because the award was a secret. In the future, the fire district membership will vote for a candidate.

Other awards presented were:

n Chief’s Award, Assistant Chief Tim Llewellyn

n President’s Award, Capt. Sean Sokolowski

n Firefighter of the Year, James Ellis

n Junior Firefighter of the Year, Kevin Riley

n Rookie of the Year, Lee Crowder

Mars Mayor Gregg Hartung installed officers and board members. The group remains the same with the exception of Joe Rausch, who joined the board.

Hartung said Monday he has heard comments from other first responders that Adams Area is a highly trained, well-qualified fire company.

“They do an amazing job serving the community, and they’re all volunteer,” Hartung said. “They don’t always receive the accolades that they deserve.”