In October, Tim Keller left his long-held position of Coplay's Emergency Management Coordinator to become the Emergency Management Deputy Coordinator in Whitehall.

Keller served the Coplay community as deputy coordinator from 1993 to 2003 and as the coordinator from 2004-2013.

"His loyalty kept him here for 20 years," Bill Leiner said, which is why the Coplay Town Watch decided to recognize Keller's services during a recent meeting.

The Coplay Town Watch honored Keller with a plaque to celebrate his efforts to ensure the safety of the community.

"It's important to honor volunteers who are sometimes under the radar," Beverly Miller said of Keller.

As the emergency management coordinator in Coplay, Keller was responsible for developing and coordinating the municipality's emergency operation plan.

"I dealt with things that could potentially happen, such as fires, tornadoes or anything serious enough for the county, state or federal government to have to give assistance," Keller explained.

After the plaque presentation, Keller said a few words about his service in Coplay and reflected on how much his job had changed over the past 20 years.

"To go from having only one radio when I started this job to where we are now is very important," he said. "It shows how things have improved."

According to Keller, one of the most rewarding aspects of serving the Coplay community was that he felt welcomed by the residents.

Keller, who is from Catasauqua, said that the appreciation he felt from the Coplay community "made a big impact on [his] decision to stay for 20 years."