Brownwood Professional Firefighter’s Association presented the 2013 B.J. Carnes Memorial Scholarship on Friday at Station 1. This scholarship is given each year to a deserving student who is attending fire school or is working toward a career in emergency services.
20-year-old Hunter Campbell was this year’s recipient. He received $1,000 to put toward his firefighting education and training. Campbell is the son of Kenneth and Gretchen Campbell of Early. He is also a 2011 graduate of Early High School.
Campbell is working on becoming a firefighter and will be taking part in the Johnson County Firefighter Boot Camp in Crowley, Texas soon. After completion of his online education of training division and firefighter boot camp, Campbell will be required to earn his state certification and then work on his EMS certification.
According to Brownwood Firefighter Chad Hill, it takes a minimum commitment of a year to become a firefighter in Texas.
Campbell stated that he became interested in firefighting because of his father who is a captain with Early Volunteer Fire Department. Kenneth Campbell has served 16 years with the EVFD.
Campbell himself recently joined the Early VFD and is training under Seth Ringler, EVFD training officer, through the State Firefighter’s Association program.
B. J. Carnes was a Brownwood firefighter for four years before his death in a plane crash in 2008. This year, his widow Jenny Carnes was pleased to be a part of the presentation.
“Anything that can help someone start a career in the fire field is great,” said Carnes who stated B.J. would have been pleased. “This is exactly what he would have wanted.”
Pictured above, left to right, are Brownwood Professional Firefighters Association representatives Brent Bruton and Chad Hill, Jenny Carnes and scholarship recipient Hunter Campbell. Below are Campbell and his parents, Kenneth and Gretchen Campbell.
