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Gary Diamond Of Molino Honored Posthumously As Florida’s Career Firefighter Of The Year
September 23, 2021
A firefighter from Molino was posthumously honored as Florida’s Career Firefighter of the Year in a ceremony this week in the Senate Chamber of the Florida Capitol.
Gary Diamond’s wife Cindy accepted the honor on his behalf from Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis.
Diamond was murdered at his Molino home on December 26, 2020.
“Gary was known as influence on others with the experience and passion to build a strong fire service community,” Patronis said, “dedicating his time to train younger generations of firefighters.”
Diamond joined the Ensley Volunteer Fire Department in 1982 before transferring to the Molino Volunteer Firefighter. He worked his way through the ranks to assistant chief of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department in 1987 and went on to serve as Molino chief from November 1992 to September 1993. He left Escambia in County 2006 to pursue his career calling as a firefighter and EMT at Navarre Beach where he retired as a captain to return home to take care of a family member. At the time of his death, he was volunteering as a fleet transport driver for Escambia Fire Rescue, moving fire apparatus around the county as needed.
“Gary suffered a tragic death in December 2020 doing what he has been know to do his entire career, which was selflessly protecting others at the expense of his own life,” stated a proclamation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, CFO and Fire Marshal Patronis, and Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried.
Diamond was among several members of Florida’s firefighting community honored for their outstanding accomplishments in the fire service industry recognized during the 2021 Fire Service Awards. Each individual or facility was nominated and selected by various fire service organizations across Florida.
Pictured above: Late firefighter Gary Diamond (left). His wife Cindy (right) accepted the Florida’s Career Firefighter of the Year honors on behalf of her late husband this week in the Florida Senate Chamber.
Comments
9 Responses to “Gary Diamond Of Molino Honored Posthumously As Florida’s Career Firefighter Of The Year”
Well deserved Gary Diamond! Thank you for your service and for being the man that you were. Your community will never forget you.
Well deserved Gary was a great guy. He would come into TT on my graveyard shifts after calls and was always smiling. Loved chatting with him when I could get him to sit still for a few minutes haha. Rest in peace Gary.
What an honor for a great man and for his wonderful wife my cousin to be able to accept this award on his behalf. It was an honor knowing Gary and being able to call him a part of my family. Gone but not forgotten. Love you Cindy.
Heartfelt and sincere thank you for everyone involved with honoring Gary as firefighter of the year. A one of a kind extraordinary person and dear friend who I think of as my co-pilot everywhere I go. Keep the shiny side up y’all. Love ya Cintyloo and family.
Cindy, I can only imagine how proud you were to accept this award on behalf of Gary. Words can not ever be written down the pain and heartache you, Erica, Joey and Katelyn have went through and are still going through. It is so nice that not only our community but our state has kept his memory alive. We love you with all our hearts and admire you for your support, devotion and dedication you gave him and a life of love and happiness. We love ya’ll. May God Bless all of you and above all, Congratulations Gary and thank you to all of you who have acknowledged our family member for the job he did so well.
What an honor, I know this made you so proud of your husband, Cindy
God Bless you and your family
I love you, little lady! Gary was so proud of you and I know that he was watching you as you accepted this honor on his behalf. You made him proud and he is always with you, in your heart and in your memories. Gary and you are loved by many and Gary is so missed by every one who knew him. God is taking care of him now and that is the best place for him to be.
What an honor .Cindy I am so happy for you . Gary was a blessing to all that knew him ..He truly is a hero !!! Gary touched many hearts , Cindy is receiving everything he always dreamed of . I know he is so proud of his Bride for being by his side in everything he done in his career with passion . We Love you Gary Diamond fly high my friend until we meet again
We love you Mrs. Cindy!