Gatesville Fire Department installs 2026 officers, presents awards at annual dinner
Tyler Burroughs was installed as Gatesville Fire Department chief at the station’s 109 S. 23rd St. installation dinner Feb. 2; Carey Roache received a 30-year service award.
The Gatesville Fire Department installed its 2026 leadership slate at an annual Officer Installation dinner held at the station at 109 S. 23rd St., where officers were sworn into service before firefighters, families and community members. The event took place Monday, Feb. 2, and a meal was prepared by Rita B Catering.
SMVFA Auxiliary President Darby Byrd installed the Auxiliary’s 2026 officers, and SMVFA President Tommy Mattingly, Jr. installed the department’s Administrative and Operational officers. The Auxiliary officers for 2026 are Molly Colonna, president; Karen Colonna, vice president; Karen Montgomery, secretary; Donna Wockenfuss, treasurer; Lori Greathouse, assistant secretary; Valerie Guy, chaplain; and Mary Ellen Evans, historian.
Auxiliary President Molly Colonna presented years-of-service recognitions and awards at the dinner. Sherry Lawyer received a 25-year service award and Carey Roache received a 30-year service award. The Auxiliary President’s Award was presented to Marie Kurtz and Debbie DePriest, and the Mary Elaine Guy Award went to Mary Ellen Evans.
The Operational and Administrative officers sworn in for 2026 include Chief Tyler Burroughs; Assistant Chief Mark Trowbridge; Deputy Chief CP Miedzinski; Engine Company Captain Tucker Hedrick and Engine Co Lieutenant Daniel Busl; Rescue Company Captain Bret Krabbe and Rescue Co Lieutenant Robert Barnes; Operations Captain Joseph Senatore; Training Lieutenant Ronnie Cox; Sergeant Craig Polk; Water Supply Officers Joseph Guyther and Corey Ianiero; Safety Officer TJ Faunce; Chief’s Aide Perry Bryant; Staff Officer James Barnes Jr.; Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement officers Cathy McGowan-Raley and Elizabeth Kidwell; Chief Engineer Bill Hemming; 1st Engineer Brian Butler; and Assistant Engineer Keith Hemming.
Outgoing Chief Ryan Raley presented departmental awards including the Cadet of the Year to Ryan Barnes, Junior Firefighter/Rookie of the Year to Carlton Yeats-Rivera, and the Firefighter of the Year (Richard S. "Stormie" Combs Award) to Jeffery Applebaugh. Certificates for completing the fire and EMT programs through the County Tech Center were presented to Jackson Barnes and Cooper Hedrick. The Chief’s Award was given jointly to Cathy McGowan-Raley and Elizabeth Kidwell.
Chief Raley also presented gifts to the Top 10 Responders for 2025: Ronnie Cox; Cooper Hedrick; Callen Thompson; Delontaye Herbert; Tyler Burroughs; Jace Williams; TJ Faunce; CP Miedzinski; Jackson Barnes; and Brian Butler. The Top 5 Drivers for 2025 named Brian Butler, Bill Hemming, Keith Hemming and an entry listed only as "Tyler" in the department’s post.
City materials list a separate Current Members roster that shows Fire Chief Billy Vaden, Deputy Chief Robert Featherston and Assistant Chief Bobby Buster among leadership; the fire station address is 109 S 23rd St., Gatesville TX 76528 and the station phone is 254-865-6416. Office hours listed on city materials are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. The department’s installation dinner installed the 2026 slate led by Tyler Burroughs and the Auxiliary officers named above; residents seeking confirmation of current roster status or additional details may contact the Gatesville fire station at 254-865-6416.
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