City of Buckhannon to Honor Tom Anderson & Rick Kitzmiller at BFD Recognition Day

BUCKHANNON, WV: The City of Buckhannon will host its 19th annual Friendly Way BFD Recognition Day on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Buckhannon Fire Department, at 3:00 PM, honoring two distinguished members of the Buckhannon Fire Department family: Tom Anderson and Rick Kitzmiller.

“Friendly Way Day” is a long‑standing WV Strawberry Festival tradition established in 2007, when the City Council dedicated the street in front of the Buckhannon Fire Department truck bay as “Friendly Way” in memory of beloved Fire Chief Carl R. “Bud,” “Ole Friendly” Bennett. The annual ceremony recognizes individuals whose service reflects the spirit, dedication, and community‑mindedness embodied by Chief Bennett.

Since its inception, Friendly Way Day has honored a remarkable group of public servants, including Bud Bennett (2007), Harley Brown (2008), Buddy Ray Zickefoose (2009), Paul Mackey (2010), Jack Ford (2011), Larry Mackey (2012), Jerry Wilfong (2013), Wyatt Long (2014), Dave Long (2015), Kevin Goodwin (2016), Charlie Shaffer (2017), Paul Morrison (2018), Joe Bennett (2019), Steve Thacker (2021), Steve Long (2022), Vaden Queen (2023), Joey Slaughter (2024), and Jim Gregory & Brian Hollen (2025).

This year, the City recognizes Tom Anderson and Rick Kitzmiller, whose combined service of more than 30 years has strengthened the Buckhannon Fire Department and enriched the quality of life in our community. Their leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to public safety exemplify the very essence of Buckhannon’s “friendly way.”

Mayor Robert Neal Skinner, III, has proclaimed Friday, May 15, 2026, as Friendly Way Day throughout the City of Buckhannon. As part of the ceremony, permanent placards honoring Anderson and Kitzmiller will be installed on both the Red Wall and the Buddy Bench along Friendly Way.

“Tom Anderson and Rick Kitzmiller represent the best of our community,” said Mayor Skinner. “Their decades of service reflect the values that define Buckhannon—dedication, compassion, and a commitment to helping others. We are proud to be honoring them during this year’s WV Strawberry Festival.”

Residents, visitors, festival‑goers, and members of the extended Fire Department family are warmly invited to attend the ceremony and celebrate the 2026 honorees.

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