Charles “Chuck” F. Olson

  The Officers and Members of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company are proud to submit the name of one of our members for the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association Hall of Fame Award.

  Charles “Chuck” F. Olson joined the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company on November 10, 1970. Chuck became involved with the administrative activities of the company almost immediately. He was a staunch supporter of our fundraising activities such as Bingo, Bull Roast, and our annual carnival. He became a member of the Board of Directors within a short time of joining the company and was elected as our President in 1975. He continued in this highest administrative post with our company through 1995, when he chose to step down.

  As President of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company, Chuck was instrumental to bringing progress to the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company. In addition to his administrative duties, Chuck was very active in the Emergency Medical Services segment of our fire company. Chuck was a key player in lobbying for the first ever volunteer paramedic unit in Anne Arundel County and negotiated its placement at the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company. This effort took considerable lobbying efforts with the fire administration and the Anne Arundel County Council. Chuck was at the forefront of these efforts and his success brought the unit to our company. As an active EMS provider, Chuck served as a Lieutenant for our EMS division at Odenton Volunteer Fire Company from 1977 through 1981.

  During his tenure as President of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company, we enjoyed much progress as a result of his leadership abilities. Each of our fund raising events was successful and enabled us to position the company for the future. Partnering with the suppression leadership of Chief Wylie L. Donaldson, Chuck and the Board of Directors were successful in the acquisition of new apparatus and equipment to meet the increasing demands on emergency services delivery. Our company also saw major renovations to the living quarters, apparatus bays, and social hall as a result of the planning efforts initiated by Chuck Olson.

  Although he stepped down as our President in 1995, Chuck Olson remains an active component of our company’s administrative activities. Chuck continues to serve positions on many of our committees which are vital to supporting the fundraising activities for the company. He has served as our Hall Rental Manager, Banquet Chairman, Mail-out Fundraiser Chairman, and Photo Fundraiser Chairman during the recent years. Having the support of members like Chuck Olson are vital to the success of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company.

    As the above testimony clearly describes, Charles F. Olson has dutifully served the interests of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company and the fire service across Anne Arundel County and the state of Maryland for over thirty-two years. Chuck serves as a role model and mentor for each person that he meets. In consideration of his career achievements as a volunteer firefighter, it is with great pride and honor that the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company submits the name of Charles F. Olson for consideration for the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association Hall of Fame Award.
David W. Lewis
Awards Coordinator
Odenton Volunteer Fire Company

Supporting Documentation

  Charles Francis Olson was born on November 28, 1937, in Teaneck, New Jersey. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and completed the requirements of the Newark College of Engineering Masters Program. He retired as a Senior Engineer from the National Security Agency in 1998 after 33 years service.

  He has been married for over 43 years to Lorraine (Lori). They are devoted to their children and their spouses, Patricia and Robert Bitting, Joanne and Thomas Price, Elaine and David Morgan, and Michael and Renee’ Olson and their cherished grandchildren, Madeline and Miranda Bitting, Matthew Price, and Daniel Morgan, and Meganne and Maxwell Olson.

  Charles joined the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company in November 1970, and has been an active member since that date, holding positions of Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Ambulance Lieutenant, and very active firefighter. He rose to the office of President and served in that position for over 20 years. During those same 20 plus years as President, Charles performed the time-consuming, but invaluable job of managing the “hall rentals” which is so vitally important to fundraising efforts. He has worked on many committees and single handedly manages the “portrait fundraiser” which has proven to be a huge success.

  As President of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company, Charles’ engineering background and attention to detail led the way for many projects and programs to be instituted bringing the Company to the forefront in numerous areas. While Charles may seem quiet and unassuming , it is safe to say that any task he takes on will be completed in a timely and professional manner. His continued record of dependability has helped to make the Company strong.

  Charles served on several Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighter’s Convention Committees; he represented the volunteer fire service on the Public Safety Transition Team upon the election of John Gary’s Administration and has served as a delegate to the Anne Arundel County Firefighter’s Association. He is a “Life Member” of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company.

  In addition to his volunteer services with the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company, Charles also serves as an active member of the Odenton Heritage Society. His community awards include: Odenton Kiwanis Club Fireman of the Year, 1979; Greater Odenton Improvement Association Citizenship Award, 1989; NSA Citizenship Award, 1991; Odenton Heritage Society Appreciation Award, 2001; and Odenton Volunteer Fire Company President’s Award 1984 and 2002.

  Charles Olson is an outstanding member of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company and an outstanding example of a volunteer firefighter. He is more than qualified to become a member of the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighter’s Hall of Fame.