Lawton firefighter named Firefighter of the Year

Lawton Deputy Fire Marshal Anthony Garibay was named Firefighter of the Year at the Heroes in the Heartland, Oklahoma’s First Responder Conference.

City officials said Garibay’s dedication and embodiment of the conference’s values make him a deserving recipient of the Firefighter of the Year award.

“When I found out I was chosen for this award, I was both surprised and humbled,” Garibay said. “This award was achieved through all of the experience and knowledge I gained along the way. I have so many mentors and leaders to thank, but I mainly want to thank my wife, Victoria, for being my No. 1 fan and pushing me to always go after my goals. It takes a strong person to be a first responder, but an even stronger person to be the spouse of one. I want to also thank my daughters, Kannon and Ember, for being my reminder every single day why I do what I do.”

“Tony embodies the mission, vision, and values that Heartland Medical Direction strives to achieve,” Garibay’s wife, Victoria, said. “He actively seeks out every educational opportunity available to him.”