Alexandria fire chief earns Shriners leadership award

ALEXANDRIA – Fire Chief Jeff Pohlman is not easily shaken.

He’s been a firefighter for 42 years, serving on the scenes of numerous tragedies and events in Bromley, Newport and the Alexandria Fire District.

But on March 12, he was shocked.

Pohlman received the Falmore “Jake” Houk Leadership Award, named for a former Syrian Shriner, during the 13th annual Syrian Shrine Awards hosted at Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati.

The leadership award is one of three honors bestowed at the annual event, where firefighters are also honored for heroism and burn prevention.

“At Shriners Hospitals for Children we heal children’s bodies, but it is the firefighters that put their lives on the line every day to protect our families,” said Fred Robinson, potentate of Syrian Shriners. “This is our way of recognizing their work and saying thank you.”

Shriners Hospitals provides specialized care to children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

“I was totally shocked,” said Pohlman, who has served as chief of the Alexandria Fire District for nine years. “I actually put two other people in for that same award, not knowing that someone else nominated me. It was the best kept secret in Alexandria.”

“This award program recognizes outstanding firefighters and emergency service personnel who are making important contributions to thousands of people throughout our community every day,” said Lisa Butt, volunteer services coordinator for Shriners Hospitals for Children. “It is an excellent opportunity to shine the spotlight on these individuals and to publicly recognize them for their tremendous efforts and service toward a safer society.”

“I’m very honored to have been chosen,” said Pohlman. “It’s always nice to be recognized, but the bigger thing is to be able to serve other people.”

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