As part of celebrating its 100 years of service as an all-volunteer fire department in 2016, members of the Good Will Fire Co No. 1, Trexlertown, established the Fred J. Gross Memorial Community Service Award.

The award is named in the memory of Gross, past fire chief and life member of the fire company, who assisted the local community in their time of need for more than 45 dedicated years.

Gross was instrumental in not only recruiting new members to the fire company, but took time to mentor their members, as well as assisting others.

He not only shared his passion for serving the community with his wife, Daris, who is the chaplain and life member of the Ladies Auxiliary, but they instilled it in their own children, Larry, Leroy, Linda and Lucy, and grandchildren who remain active with the volunteer fire companies where they reside.

The award will be presented annually to a graduating senior who resides within the coverage area of Trexlertown Fire Department in Upper and Lower Macungie townships and who has freely given his or her free time to assist others through community first.

After reviewing several well-deserving applicants, the committee selected Ryan J. Korutz as the first recipient.

Korutz is a member of the Good Will Fire Co. No. 1 who during his senior year successfully completed his Firefighter 1 certification, with more than 180 classroom hours of instruction, responded on emergency calls, participated in numerous fundraising activities and fire prevention programs while still attending high school full time and working a part-time job.

For his efforts, Korutz was presented a Certificate of Recognition, a $500 check, and will have his name engraved on a perpetual plaque at the fire department.

Korutz also received two additional academic awards at the ceremony.