Walter "Butch" Kienzle, president of the Atlantic County Fire Chiefs Association, honors Longport Volunteer Fire Department Chief Levon "Lefty" Clayton, Feb. 16, 2022.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
LONGPORT Longport Volunteer Fire Department Chief Levon Lefty Clayton was honored Wednesday, Feb. 16 at the Atlantic County Fire Chiefs Association meeting held in Longport.
Longport Commissioners Dan Lawler and Jim Leeds attended the meeting.
The association's president Walter "Butch" Kienzle, chief of Egg Harbor City Fire Department, honored Clayton for his four years of dedication, service and commitment as Atlantic County Fire Coordinator. Clayton stepped down from the position on Dec. 31, 2021. He previously served as deputy fire coordinator from 1990 until 2018 when he was appointed coordinator.
From left, current Atlantic County Fire Coordinator Chip Stockton, Clayton, and NJ Southern Shore Coordinator Don Nelson.
Longport Commissioner of Public Safety Dan Lawler and Commissioner of Finance Jim Leeds were in attendance to offer Clayton congratulations and welcome Atlantic County firefighters to the borough.
Longport Volunteer Firefighter Joseph Costa models a 1973 vintage Ambulance Squad jacket.
Kienzle said Clayton took his job very seriously, ensuring mutual aid plans were up-to-date and correspondence from the NJ Division of Fire Safety was conveyed to all Atlantic County fire departments and companies. His role included providing the assistance and resources needed for major incidents or emergencies to all of the county's firefighters.
New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Southern Shore Region Coordinator Don Nelson also honored Clayton. Reading from the plaque, Nelson joked that he never knew Lefty's real name is Levon.
The estimated 60 firefighters in attendance thanked Clayton for his more than 30 years of firefighting service and commitment to fire safety in Atlantic County.
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