Surrounded by Post 19 parent boosters and business leaders from the local community, Fire Fighter Roland Dykes was recognized as the Walnut Valley Rotary Club’s Firefighter of the Year on October 16. Every year, the club which serves Walnut and Diamond Bar recognizes a firefighter and deputy who serve these communities.
Division 8 Assistant Chief Dave Stone introduced Dykes by sharing that he’s been a member of the Department for 29 years and commended him for dedicating 22 of those years as an advisor for the Explorer Program. Currently Dykes is the lead advisor for Post 19 and has done so for the past 15 years. Stone also noted that Dykes enjoys helping people so much that, during his career, he’s even delivered three babies!
As an advisor, Dykes is always looking for new and innovative ways of sharing the fire service world with his Explorers and has been instrumental in forming partnerships with firefighters from other states and countries. Through fundraising efforts, Post 19 has been fortunate to raise enough funds to travel to Germany, Alaska and Argentina.
His ability to work well with others is what helped to create one of the first parent booster clubs. Many of the parents continue to donate time to Post 19 fundraising activities even though their sons and daughters are no longer members of the Post.
Dykes never asks for recognition, choosing instead to draw his satisfaction in knowing that local youths are involved in the community, that they remain motivated and have a positive environment to learn about the fire service. He takes a sincere interest in each member of the Post and says: “The end result is that they become responsible citizens and not have excuses. They need to have a plan for life whether they choose to become a firefighter or not.”
--Leticia Pacillas, Los Angeles County Fire Department
