Firefighter Celebrates 70 Years Of Service In Anne Arundel County

ODENTON, MD — A firefighter on Tuesday celebrated his 70th year of service with the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company.

The firefighter, Wylie L. Donaldson Jr., joined the station on Sept. 13, 1952 at age 14. Donaldson went on to become one of the most decorated firefighters in his era.

In honor of his anniversary, Donaldson earned a Governor's Citation for Outstanding Services to the Citizens of the State of Maryland. Pat Lally, a member of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives, presented the award.

"Wylie's accomplishments over the years are too numerous to mention," fire department representative Patti Kidwell wrote in a Patch neighbor post.

Donaldson has been an administrative or operational officer for at least 60 years, occasionally serving in both roles at the same time. He is also a key planner for the station's annual carnival.

The lifelong member is a past president of the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association. Donaldson has twice won the organization's Individual of the Year Award, and he is still active in the group.

Donaldson is similarly active in the Maryland State Firemen's Association. He is one of the few members to win that association's three most prestigious awards: the Gladhill-Thompson Award, the Marbery F. Gates Award and the Robert H. Shimer Administrator of the Year Award.

Thanks to decades of service, Donaldson was inducted to the:

• Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association Hall of Fame
• Maryland State Firemen's Association Hall of Fame
• Maryland Fire Chief's Hall of Fame