A former Bethel Volunteer firefighter is among a dozen inductees this year into the State of Connecticut Firefighter Hall of Fame.  The Connecticut State Firefighters Association has released the list of firefighters who have contributed to the betterment of the Fire Service on a local state or national level.

Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Department announced that Past Chief Jon Menti is one of the inductees.  Menti served more than 40 years in the volunteer fire service and was an adjunct Connecticut Fire Academy instructor for over 20 years.

Laurence Ford of Redding, who passed away in May at the age of 93, is being inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously.  He was a research engineer for the National Board of Fire Underwriters.  He served as the Fire Service Coordinator, as well as the Director of Fire Training Programs for the Connecticut State Technical Colleges.  He was appointed to the Connecticut Advisory Committee on Emergency Medical Services by Governor Ella Grasso.   He founded and served as the first president of the Connecticut Fireman’s Historical Society.  

Ford was an active member of Redding Fire Company, #1, where he began his service as a volunteer firefighter in 1940 and served as both the Company’s Fire Marshall and Fire Commissioner.  He was also an Emergency Medical Technician.  As a Chairman of the Redding Emergency Communications Board, he was instrumental in bringing “911” communications to Redding.

An awards ceremony is being held in April. 

Class of 2016 Inductees:

Fred Dudek, Jr., Killingworth

Laurence Ford, Redding (posthumous)

James E. Kiley, Newingtown (posthumous)

Ronald L. Littell, Sr., Tolland

Kevin R. McKeon, West Shore (West Haven)

Jon Menti, Stony Hill

Jeffrey Morrissette, Wethersfield (Fire Admin)

John E. Obier, Jr., North Haven (posthumous)

Gary M. Parker, Derby

Charles Perrotti, North Canaan

Kenneth W. Richards, Jr., Olde Mystic