Robert L. Benner, longtime Whitehall Township fire chief, posthumously received the Partners in Prevention Award during the 11th annual Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage Awards Celebration, held Oct. 4 at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, Bethlehem.

According to a press release announcing the award winner, Benner, who died in March, performed many roles in his 30 years as chief, but his favorite responsibility was that of fire safety educator. He instructed tens of thousands of children and staff at schools, day care centers and adult care facilities.

In 2015, he oversaw fire prevention programs for nearly 5,000 people, the release continued.

Benner managed five township fire stations and 150 firefighters and fire police. He served as treasurer of Lehigh Emergency Services Training Academy (LESTA) and Lehigh and Northampton County Fire Investigation Training Association. He was involved in the ProBoard FF1 certification testing held every year at Emmaus fire training grounds through LESTA.

Benner oversaw design and construction of a fire training facility that opened in 1988 and was later renamed the Robert L. Benner Fire Training Facility. Firefighters from the Lehigh Valley and beyond use the center to hone their skills to better protect their communities. Benner was at nearly every fire in Whitehall Township for almost half a century - right up until he was hospitalized in late December 2015, according to the press release.

When he died in March, family and friends paid their respects during two days of events celebrating his life and countless contributions to the township. An honor procession was led by the township’s fire companies and attended by firefighters and officers from across the Lehigh Valley.

The Partners in Prevention Award was presented to Benner’s daughters, Barbara and Cynthia Benner, and grandson Lt. Justin Benner.