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Dear Hall of Fame Committee, I am submitting the nomination for John C. Spiker, Sr., to be considered as an inductee into the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association’s Hall of Fame. John Spiker has been a volunteer firefighter since the age of 16 (forty-one years) and is currently a Firefighter III, FADO, and EMTB at the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company. He has made many outstanding contributions to the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association, the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company, and the Maryland State Firemen’s Association. In 1996, John was the driving force behind the acquisition of the Anne Arundel County’s Fire Safety House. During this timeframe, he was responsible for coordinating the use of the trailer and assured it was delivered and manned at all scheduled events. He was also the first to conduct training classes on the operation of the Safety House. In 1996, John Spiker received the “Firefighter of the Year Award,” sponsored by the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce and in 1997, he received the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association “Individual of the Year” Award. Since that time, John has not only been involved in fire prevention education, but has also been instrumental in the installation of smoke alarms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens of Anne Arundel County and surrounding areas. He has served as Anne Arundel County’s representative in this project and still installs the alarms when notified. He is currently a member of the Governor’s Committee for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. John also serves as Chairperson of the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association’s Residential Sprinkler Committee. He recently coordinated an informative program between the MSFA’s Residential Sprinkler Committee and the Anne Arundel County-County Council to promote the importance of installing residential sprinkler systems in all new single-family homes being built in Anne Arundel County. John believes wholeheartedly in this program, realizing it would not only save property, but that it is also a safety factor for our firefighters. John Spiker is an active member of the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company. He is a FADO assigned to the Thursday Night 24-hour duty crew at Lake Shore VFC. It is not uncommon to see John participating in work activities around the station and community. From mowing the lawn, washing down the bays, posting carnival signs or delivering LSVFC newsletters to schools, businesses and daycares in the community; nothing exempt. He is a go-getter in his local company, and is currently involved in raising funds for the anticipated new building at LSVFC. In March and April 2006, he was recognized as one of the Top Five Fire Responders and also held rank as one of the Top Five in Standby Hours. John is a member of the MSFA Fire Prevention Committee and is on the Poster and Placemat sub-committee responsible for the design, ordering, pickup, and distribution of more than 85,000 fire prevention placemats and posters to fire companies throughout the state. He also assists with the designs for fire prevention billboards, which are erected throughout Maryland. He assists the LAMSFA Fire Prevention Committee whenever possible and is always ready to lend a hand whenever needed. John is Chairperson of the MSFA’s Historical and Archives Committee. Under his leadership, the committee held work parties to separate and file all historical photographs and mementos of the MSFA and member companies that were in the possession, and he acquired a storage unit which to store the irreplaceable history. His hopes, in the future, were to have a place in which to be able to display the history for everyone to enjoy. In addition to the MSFA Fire Prevention and Historical and Archives Committees, he is also an active member of the MSFA’s Residential Sprinkler Committee and of the FABSCOM (Fire and Burn Safety Coalition of Maryland). As you can see from the criteria listed above, John C. Spriker, Sr. plays an extensive role in the fire service in Anne Arundel County, the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company, and in the Maryland State Firemen’s Association. It is because of the criteria listed above, I would like you to consider John C. Spiker, Sr.’s induction into the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association Hall of Fame. Sincerely, 2012 Update: John continues to be active in the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association. He is working his way to be President and is currently First Vice President. He remains active on several committees and is the key person for obtaining ads for the annual Convention Book. John continues to be active in the Maryland State Firemen’s Association serving on several committees. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2007. Obituary August 24, 2016 John C. Spiker Sr. was born on February 5th, 1948 in Cumberland Maryland. He is preceded in death by his parents; William Henry Spiker and Edna Elizabeth Spiker. John is survived by his son John C. Spiker Jr. and wife Heather, daughter Crystal, granddaughter Corie, grandsons Nick and Justice, great granddaughter Madeline, brother, William D. Spiker and his wife Kaye, niece Diane and his extended Harrington-Huffman family and many friends all over the State. As a youngster, John and his brother Bill were members of the ABC traveling bowling league. John was on the Arundel High School State Championship Basketball team in 1964-1965. He was active in the Boy scouts and in the Methodist Church Youth Choir. The Methodist Youth group presented Brooks Robinson with a bible on the third base at Memorial Stadium. John loved all sports and music and at one time, he played the saxophone and the drums. John knew he wanted to be a fireman at the age of 5. John began his young life around the firehouse as his father was a member of the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department in the late 1950s. In 1962, the family moved to Odenton. In September 1963, John attended Arundel High school and ultimately became a proud member of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. on February 5, 1964, upon turning 16 years of age. John celebrated his 52 years of fire service on February 5, 2016. In John’s early years at the Odenton station, it was common for John to assist as an EMS aide to the Jessup Volunteer Fire Department, allowing Jessup VFD to put their ambulance in service with a driver and an aide. As it turned out, John became an active member of both companies. In 1964, Anne Arundel County became a Charter Government. With the Charter Government, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department was established. At the time, the government only hired drivers. A bill was submitted to hire firefighters for staffing around the County. On April 15th, 1968, John was one of 29 chosen to attend the first Anne Arundel County Fire Department training class. John’s badge number was 101, where he was assigned to Marley Volunteer Fire Company as a firefighter. In 1970, John was promoted to Engineman and was assigned to Jessup Volunteer Fire Department. John attended Catonsville Community College, the National Fire Academy, and retired from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire Rescue Department as a Deputy Fire Marshal, specializing in arson investigations. He was certified as an Arson Investigator II and Inspector III. In 1996, John received the Firefighter of the Year Award sponsored by the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce and in 1997; he received Individual of the Year Award, sponsored by the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association. John’s volunteerism continued as he became a member of additional volunteer fire companies, holding the ranks of Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief, and ultimately Chief. He has received numerous certifications, both through the Maryland Voluntary Fire Service Certification System and the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications. He also holds the certification as an Airport Rescue Firefighter (ARFF). John is an active member of the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company, where he is a FADO. It is not uncommon to see John participating in work activities around the station and community. He is a go-getter in his local company. John is Past President of the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association and currently held the position of Trustee. John Spiker’s fifty two years of fire service in Anne Arundel county, serving in both a volunteer and career capacity has been a great asset to the fire service. In the past, he has served as the AACVFA Fire Prevention chairperson and was the driving force behind the acquisition of Anne Arundel County’s first Fire Safety House. John has not only been involved in fire prevention education, but has also been instrumental in the installation of smoke alarms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens of Anne Arundel County and surrounding areas. John was very active with the MSFA and Anne Arundel County Residential Sprinkler Committees, where he traveled to Minneapolis to support the Residential Sprinkler vote with the ICC and again to Baltimore to participate in the latest ICC vote, promoting the installation of sprinklers in new one and two family homes. In 2006, John was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association Hall of Fame and in 2007 he was inducted into the Maryland State Firemen’s Association’s Hall of Fame. In March 2008, John was awarded Firefighter of the Year for the local Knights of Columbus from Our Lady of the Chesapeake Catholic Church and was later named Firefighter of the Year for the Maryland Knights of Columbus, with an awards ceremony and Mass held at Mother Seton Parish, Baltimore, Maryland. In 2009, John was once again awarded Firefighter of the Year from Our Lady of the Chesapeake Catholic Church. John has been involved with the MSFA for over 40 years, serving as Co-Chairperson of the MSFA’s Fire and Life Safety Committee and Chairperson of the Historical & Archives Committee. He currently serves on the Maryland Fire Rescue Memorial Foundation and it is common to see him at the Memorial in Annapolis performing maintenance tasks. He currently serves on several other MSFA Committees. He is a Life Member of the Maryland Fire Chiefs with over 35 years of service and is also a Life Member of the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company. John was Vice President of the Friends of Downs Park where he initiated the fundraising for the new amphitheater. John was also a member of the Pasadena Senior Center where he assisted with fundraising efforts as well. Viewings will be held Funeral will be held In lieu of Flowers: Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company Friends of Downs Park |
