This past Friday, September 11, the Kiwanis Club of Pampa honored first responders in a 24-year tradition since the 2001 September 11 attacks that forever changed our nation. Kiwanis President John Warner introduced the recipients of the Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter of the Year awards, but not before expressing the importance of remembering our first responders.
“Twenty-five years ago, I was on my way to a jury trial in Spearman and there came an announcement over the radio that there had been an airplane that crashed into one of the twin towers in New York City. Before we got to Spearman, we got the news that there had been a second plane that also crashed into the Twin Towers. That produced the death of almost 3,000 Americans and was the biggest act of terrorism on our country in our history. So since that day, the Kiwanis Club has made it a point to honor our first responders, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. We realize that every day you put your lives on the line for us, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
Firefighter of the Year
“I am sure you have heard the expression, ‘Jack of all trades, Master of none.’ This 2026 Firefighter of the Year excels at not just one, not just two, but three different jobs. All involve in one way or another service to his community. All three jobs he does well, according to Fire Chief Kasey Presson of the Pampa, Texas Fire Department. Our honoree is an Emergency Medical Technician. He serves the City of Panhandle as a member of the Panhandle Emergency Medical Service. He is also an instructor for the Amarillo Fire Academy. He has worked in the Pampa Fire Department for the last two years. Chris Torgersen, an equipment operator for the Pampa Fire Department has worked with our honoree since he has been on the job for our community. ‘He has a great attitude and is hard working. He shows up for work about 30 minutes early every day,’ Torgersen reported. ‘We check our firefighting apparatus every day. It needs to be ready for duty at a moment’s notice. Everything needs to be in correct order with nothing missing. When he checks our equipment, it is always perfect. The job never becomes merely routine for him.’ Earlier this year, a medical problem caused our fighter of the year to step aside for treatment. ‘We practically had to fight him to get treatment because he is so dedicated to his job as a firefighter and his responsibility to this community,’ Torgersen said. ‘He is one of the most friendly, personable, and genuinely nice people you’ll ever meet,’ Presson concluded. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the 2026 Firefighter of the Year, Moses Montgomery!”
Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
“The 2026 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year has served us for more than 30 years in his career with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He began his career in Huntsville, Texas, in October 1988 as a Correctional Officer for the Ellis and Holiday Units. Eleven years later he transferred to Central Region Transportation, where he worked as a transport officer with the responsibility of moving inmates from one unit to another throughout Texas. After a very brief retirement for a year from 2012 to 2013, our honoree resumed his service at the Hamilton Unit in Bryan/College Station. In 2014, he transferred back to the Holiday Unit as a Field Force Officer, supervising inmate work crews assigned to garden operations. He found his true ability to best serve the taxpayers of Texas at the Wynne Farm where he supervised inmate work crews in garden operations. He directed inmate work crews throughout the Huntsville community at the Holiday Unit where he returned in 2016. In 2022, our honoree transferred to the Jordan Unit of Pampa where he currently serves as a Field Force Officer. He supervises multiple gardens maintained by inmates. The gardens produce fresh produce not only for the Jordan Unit, but also for other units all over Texas. In 2025, his team produced more than 167,000 pounds of vegetables. With the average cost of vegetables ranging from 90 cents to $2.50 per pound, our honoree saved the taxpayers of Texas more than $250,000. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year from the Rufe Jordan Unit in Pampa, Texas, Haskell Sisco!”
We thank every single first responder and service member who have selflessly put the lives of others before their own each and every day because it’s people like you who help keep us safe and free.
