The Greg Tucker Memorial Career Firefighter Award was presented to Dustin Postlewait of the Brewton Fire Department at their annual banquet held at the East Brewton Civic Center on Thursday, July 6.

This award is presented each year to a  firefighter who excels at what he does.

“I really appreciate the award,” Postlewait said. “If I could, I would divide it with my fellow firefighters. Everybody needs credit for the work that they do, and one person doesn’t do it all.”

The award given to him is one given in memory of former firefighter, Greg Tucker, who lost a long battle with cancer in 2007. Tucker loved the fire department, almost as much as he loved riding motorcycles. The procession to the cemetery included fire trucks from every department in this area. It was easy to see that people loved him.

The local firefighters from Escambia County loved the fallen hero so much, they have helped to sponsor many fundraisers in Tucker’s name. Several years ago, the Escambia County Volunteer Fire Association decided to give a special award in Tucker’s name each year at their annual banquet.

“I am very proud of what I do, and who I represent in the community,” said Postlewait. “Each shift has a captain, a lieutenant, and two firefighters. We work one day on and two days off.”

Postlewait is no stranger to work. He is only 23 years old, but he has already put some major time into learning and practicing what he learns.

He was born in Texas, but he lived in several places as his step-father was in the U.S. Marines.

By the time he graduated from Flomaton High School in 2012, he was already putting in time as a volunteer at Barnett Cross Roads and Pineview Volunteer Fire Departments.

“I worked with Jerry Wayne Carnley and Ben Roe and learned a lot from them. In the meantime I was volunteering at the East Brewton Fire Department with Joey Shell and got to know some of the other people working there and in Brewton. I was hired on in 2004 and I love it. The work is sometimes light and we spend that time cleaning the trucks and station. Then sometimes we have days when everything tries to happen at the same time. I work on my day off with a landscaping business.”

He is a young man but he has already bought a home in Brewton and is fully devoted to making a life for himself in this area. He has two sisters, one who is his twin.

“I am very proud to get this award,” he said. “If I could I would share it with my fellow firefighters. Everybody puts a great effort into the department and we are proud of what we do. Everybody in the department does just as much as I do.”