A Training Officer of the Year Award and a Fire Instructor of the Year Award shall be presented to the fire service training officer deemed to have had the greatest positive impact on his/her organization and/or Minnesota fire service training during the calendar year preceding the annual conference. Said award shall be presented to the recipient at the annual conference.
Cleo Keiper Training Officer Award
Training Officer of the Year
Cleo L. Keiper was the Senior Instructor for the State Fire Training Office. Cleo came to work for the state in 1967 from the Winona Fire Department. He retired in 1988 after 21 years with the State Fire Training Office. Cleo had a long history with state fire training and was instrumental in furthering the education of firefighters and training officers.
On February 12, 2006, at the age of 82, the fire service lost a legend. One of the most gifted and talented Instructors our state has ever had. Cleo Keiper was that man. He was inspirational, dedicated and brilliant. Cleo was a consummate instructor with a passion for the education of our firefighters.
His training of the young fire department instructors on this most basic concepts of educating adults, the nucleus around which all other teaching revolve will have a forever lasting impact on Minnesota fire service.
One of his greatest concerns was the education of the training officers. Cleo created a two part series of methodology course for training officers and instructors.
Cleo taught firefighters the efficient use of water supply's and how to use the fire department pumpers along with several other topics. He touched many of us across the state and country through his presence, hands-on training, lectures, and companionship.
He created many disciples of his training of instructors. Those of us that are teaching firefighter today have Cleo to thank for his expertise and leadership in educational methodology.
More Inforamtion Here
Curt Holter Instructor Award
Fire Instructor of the Year
Curt "Bud" Holter had a passion for the fire service and lived every day expressing that passion.
Those of you that stopped to pick up books or visit Bud new how hard it was to leave their home in Minnetonka as Bud was always in a teaching mode and you would not leave class early.
Bud grew up in Edina, Minnesota. His dedication and love for the fire service began in September of 1942 when he received his first fire fighter training in the Navy during WWII. He obtained the rank of Quartermaster 1st Class while serving on PC-583 in the Caribbean and Central Pacific. Upon his discharge in November of 1945, he returned to Minnesota and became a member of the Edina Volunteer Fire Department, where he served from 1946 until moving to Bloomington in 1954. In Bloomington, he was appointed Civil Defense Fire Chief and Assistant Director of Civil Defense for 2 years.
He moved to Minnetonka in 1958 and became one of the charter members of the Minnetonka Volunteer Fire Department. There he served in many positions including Truck Captain and District Chief /Training Officer. For 15 of the 21 years he was a member of Minnetonka, he was responsible for their firefighter training. In 1974, he became one of the first fire instructors at the Hennepin Technical Center teaching fire fighters from many different departments together, in the same classroom. He taught there for the next 10 years mentoring many of the fire service instructors we have today.
In 1969, Bud was one of the organizers of the Fire Instructors Association of Minnesota. (FIAM). This previous organization provided resources and training for instructors to use in teaching their own fire departments, technical colleges, and regional schools. Over the years he served as FIAM President and Services Chairman. His house was a one-stop shop for anyone needing books or information on the fire service. Nearly all of his time and half of his home was dedicated to movies, videos, books, and other literature on the fire service. What little time he had left was spent as a remodeling contractor, his real vocation. He was a member of the local carpenters union for over 50 years.
Curt's love and dedication to the fire service was known beyond the State of Minnesota as well. He donated many hours of his time helping to write two fire service training manuals. These books, "Forcible Entry" and "Building Construction in the Fire Service" have been used nationally as fire fighting training resources.
The highlight of his fire service career came in 1979 when he received the International "Fire Instructor on the Year" award from the International Society of Fire Instructors. He was not only the first Minnesotan to receive this award, but also the first volunteer firefighter to be recognized with this honor.
Curtis "Bud" Holter passed away Friday, May 25th, 2001, at the age of 76.
Past Recipients of the FITOAM
Training Officer of The Year Award
2011 Thomas McDonough of St. Paul Fire
2010 Dave Dreelan of Plymouth Fire Department
2009 Jim Zwaschka of North Mankato Fire
Past Recipients of the FITOAM
Fire Instructor of The Year Award
2011 Joe Blank of St. Paul Fire
2010 Jim Theodore of Mesabi Range College
2009 Bob Meyer of Almulund Fire
Past Recipients of the SCC College
Training Award
2006 James W. Kline of Prior Lake Fire Dept
2007 Jon Kahnke of Waseca Fire Dept
2008 Galen Mastin of Eagle Lake Fire Dept
If you wish to nominate an individual for either of these awards, please here for Instructor of the year nomination form and here for the Training Officer of the year nomination form. These awards will be presented at our Annual Conference in January 2012. It is the responsibility of the nominator to ensure that the nominees will be present at the ceremony.