The city of Cordova honored Richard “Dick” Groff with a Proclamation of Appreciation during the Jan. 16 city council meeting, citing his 45 years of contributions and invaluable service with the Cordova Volunteer Fire Department.
Groff came to Cordova in 1974 to work with the U.S. Forest Service and immediately immersed himself in the community.
Since then he has served as a councilmember, vice-mayor, Health Services Board member, volunteers for the Cordova Trap and Gun Club and Amateur HAM Radio Club, Cordova Community Baptist Church Board of Deacons and assists with hunter safety training. Currently, Groff serves as CVFD’s safety officer.
“When I was with him with my son in hunter safety, he did an outstanding job and it’s a lifelong lesson for (my son)…,” Tom Bailer said. “I saw it pay off in the field one time and I just go back to that and, thank you, thank you.”
The proclamation focused mainly on Groff’s commitment and long-time devotion as a volunteer serving CVFD, in addition to providing Computer Emergency Response Team training and teaching disaster management classes.
“Dick has been a driving force during several Alaska Shield exercises and at age 83 is believed to be the oldest active firefighter in the state of Alaska,” Cordova Mayor Clay Koplin wrote in the proclamation.
In 1979, Groff became one of the first in the state to receive the designation of certified firefighter and was appointed to CVFD assistant chief just three years later. He helped establish the statewide firefighter I curriculum and to develop the Explorer Post within CVFD, training thousands of firefighters across the state, while encouraging youth to serve the Cordova community.
Groff was the recipient of the Alaska State Firefighter’s Association’s Del Moffitt Firefighter of the Year Award in 1982 and 2012 for outstanding performance as a firefighter. Groff also received a special commendation for a life-saving effort in a drug overdose case in 2004.
In 2016, he received his search and rescue technician level III certification.
“Dick’s life is truly a perfect example of thriving through service to one’s community,” said Koplin.
