City Celebrates “Friendly Way Day” and Honors Longtime Firefighter Steve Thacker!

May 14, 2021, BUCKHANNON, WV: Mayor Robbie Skinner joined Buckhannon Fire Chief JB Kimble for “Friendly Way Day”!  The Mayor used to occasion to honor and celebrate the life and many contributions of “STEVE THACKER,” who served our Buckhannon Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter & department contributor in countless ways for 35 years (1985-2020)

This tradition began as a way to celebrate the memory of Buckhannon’s longtime Fire Chief, Carl R. “Bud,” “Ole Friendly” Bennett, by naming & dedicating the newly established municipal street upon which our City’s Public Safety Complex is located as – “Friendly Way”. 

City Council decided to annually honor other members of our City fire department family who have substantially contributed to the high quality of life enjoyed by our Buckhannon-Upshur residents, while embodying the essence of Buckhannon’s “friendly way” as part of their public service to our community during an annual celebration to be known as “Friendly Way Day”

Past honorees include Bud Bennett in 2007, Harley Brown in 2008, Buddy Ray Zickefoose in 2009, Paul Mackey in 2010, Jack Ford in 2011, Larry Mackey in 2012, Jerry Wilfong in 2013, Wyatt Long in 2014, Dave Long in 2015, Kevin Goodwin in 2016, Charlie Shaffer in 2017, Paul Morrison in 2018; and Joe Bennett in 2019.