Lifetime Achievement

Guy S. Coombs
Fire Chief-Retired /Founding- Lifetime Member

Retired Chief Coombs “Guy” was our department’s first fire chief which was established in 1997 and retired as our chief in 2013. With over 25 years of fire service his loyalty to his community and county didn't stop there as he served in many public and community service positions before, during and after such as Henry County Magistrate, Simpson Masonic Lodge of New Castle, and still active in his service to the department as a mentor and Instructor. Being known for his chronic jovial personality and easy going approach he never knew a stranger and never turned a blind eye to someone in need. This demeanor is what made him successful and being held in such a high regard by his personnel. He saw the need, had the vision, led and coordinated the creation of the Lake Jericho Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department Inc. which started out as a substation of the city of New Castle Volunteer Fire Department in a loyal members barn and through time led and coordinated the charge to the crafting of the building we are housed in today.

Homer E. Druin
PAST Assistant Chief/Presiding Board/Lifetime Member

Assistant Fire Chief Homer Druin; a longtime sustaining member of our department since its inception. Whose monumental contributions by not only him but his wife Nellie paved the way to enlist local, state, and federal political entities to procure funding that assisted in making it possible to build the building we are currently in today. “Chief Homer” comes to us from a long line of public service. Not only does he have well over 28+ years in the fire service but he is retired United States Army Reserve Senior enlisted, retired from a successful long service as the Chief of Operations to the Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Emergency Management, and has held several senior level seats with the American Red Cross. He is still active to this day with our department as a Fire Instructor and Board Member as well as a past member of Pleasureville Volunteer Fire & Rescue. His loyalty to service and his ability to find a positive attribute and humor in everything can be infectious and certainly leaves an indelible mark on all whom he comes in contact.

Clinton R. Vinup
Assistant Chief / Firefighter / Lifetime Member

Past Assistant Fire Chief Clinton Vinup; a member of the department since a teenager. With more than 15 years of fire service experience; this third generation traditional; yet progressive fire service veteran is serving as not only in his chosen life pursuit as a career but in the volunteer service that he firmly believes in. He has dedicated countless hours and made many personal sacrifices to ensure his departments overall success. He has served in each rank up through and including the position of Assistant Fire Chief within our department. Assistant Chief Vinup was responsible for establishing our Cadet Firefighter program, First Responder Quality of Care initiative, and Public Fire Education Programs, as well as authoring a comprehensive Emergency Operations Assessment and Risk Management plan. These accomplishments coupled with being instrumental in re-affirming and forging a lasting solid partnership with our outside mutual aid agencies both in and out of our county as well as being instrumental in the many needed changes that are still appreciated and used to date. His loyalty and dedication in revitalizing and improving our agency training program has assisted in setting the bar in establishing a recognizable industry standard approach which provided not only for real progression but ensures our members safety and the highest of customer service approach. In a partnership with and under direction of the Director for Henry County EMS established from its incipiency a successful much needed Fire Department based basic and advanced first responder program for our district. He continues to be an asset, mentor, and inspiration to other firefighters and officers. Therefore in 2015 he was bestowed the privilege and honor of Lifetime membership. “CC” as affectionately known by our department, by way of his obvious genuine love and loyalty to his service, his ability to handle all challenges with humility and humor in everything was felt and appreciated by all with whom he comes in contact. Being not only International Fire Service Accreditation Congress and National Professional Qualifications Fire Board certified in multiple disciplines; he also holds a Associates Degree in Fire Science Technology and a Bachelors degree in Fire Administration. A proud member of the Lockport Masonic Lodge, Kosair Shrine, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the National Association of Fire Investigators, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians and continued supporter of the Special Olympics program speaks volumes as to why he is held with such a warm regard.

Scott E. Vinup
Deputy Fire Chief/Lifetime Member

"Deputy Fire Chief” Vinup (Retired) has had an effect, for the better, on virtually every aspect and member of our department. Chief Vinup is widely regarded as a one-stop-shop for fire and emergency services related questions or advice. As a noted hardcore “traditional" yet progressive Firefighter/Chief Officer he has made it his goal and his mission, to ensure that everyone serving within the fire service that he comes in contact with understands that Mission, Vision and Values aren’t just words, they are a way of life and that learning, living and teaching Honesty, Integrity and Loyalty is the only true path to a long, safe and fulfilling fire service tenure. If you have ever sit through or attended one of his lectures you no doubt will hear that he had regrettably made so many mistakes and decisions that he each day wishes he could take back throughout his career and in the same breath tells his audience how to keep from making those same mistakes and the importance of owning those errors, learning from them and sharing with others so that they never venture down an alley that is unnecessary. The phrases that are always heard by those in which he comes in contact is “ You must stand up and Progress our Fire & Emergency Services Forward”, “Learn it, Respect It, Live it, Teach it, and Mentor it” and at the end of each conversation “ Stay Safe, and Make sure you Progress our Fire & Emergency Services Forward Today”. Deputy Chief Vinup has devoted his entire life in service to others which was not limited to serving at a very young age as a Cadet firefighter, attending a hands on all entailing high school vocational firefighting program, active duty military service, career and volunteer fire and emergency services progressing through to ranks up to Fire Chief in both arenas and a past long time member of the American Red Cross, longtime avid supporter and advocate of the Boy Scouts of America Exploring program, founder of several successful junior, explorer and cadet firefighter programs that yielded countless career and volunteer fire service officers and Fire Chiefs as well as a lifetime member of two fire service organizations, American Legion, Mason and a Shriner. Deputy Chief Vinup selflessly, tirelessly and with humility served as a trendsetter and mentor for so many; of not only our membership, firefighters and officers, neighboring department members but to various fire departments and Chiefs across the nation and is devoted to the educating and mentoring of youth and young aspiring leaders within the emergency services industry. In his lifetime; he has obtained in multiple disciplined areas International Accreditation and National Professional Qualifications Fire Board certifications, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Instructor. He authored the book "Finding Solace through Service", written several articles on Fire Service leadership , controversial fire service transition and consolidation practices. Receiving multiple awards and citations for not only lifesaving, leadership, and dedication to public service. Chief Vinup led the tireless charge to our agency re-building, constant progression and revitalization that opened the doors for progression and stability of our service. It is for that and so many other reasons that he is without a doubt one our most beloved and treasured assets.