Rossford Fire Chief Josh Drouard, left, shakes hands with Grace, 2, and Eddie Kolanko, 3, as Rossford Mayor Neil MacKinnnon III, Walbridge Mayor Edward Kolanko and Chief Wojnar’s son Lawrence all look on after Eddie received his great-grandfather Fire Chief Larry Wojnar’s badge.
Roger LaPointe | Sentinel-Tribune
ROSSFORD — The city has given the 3-year-old great-grandson of the late Fire Chief Larry Wojnar’s fire chief badge.
Fire Chief Larry Wojnar served in the Rossford Fire Department for more than 37 years and his badge has been on display on the second floor of the Rossford fire department. He died in 1978.
With three generations of Wojnar and Kolanko family in attendance, the city returned the badge during the Oct. 24 council meeting, and gave a tribute to the late chief.
Rossford Fire Chief Josh Drouard presented the badge and a tribute award to the family. Receiving the tribute plaque was Wojnar’s grandson, Walbridge Mayor Edward Kolanko, and Kolanko’s children, Grace, 2, and Eddie Kolanko, 3, and Chief Wojnar’s son Lawrence Wojnar.
“Larry was a beloved fire chief. He was out of the glory years, from 1951 to 1978. He served 26 years as fire chief. So we are going to return his badge to the family, so they can enjoy it for now, until they want to pass it on to somebody else. Enjoy your family lineage,” Chief Drouard said, as he passed the badge on to 3-year-old Eddie.
He then passed the new tribute plaque on to Eddie’s sister, Grace.
In a letter to the city, Ed Kolanko said that in 1979 his grandmother was asked by Rossford officials to donate his chief’s badge and chief’s hat to the City of Rossford. She gave the badge, but kept the hat. The badge had been on display since.
Kolanko had asked for the return of the badge to the family, specifically to his son, Eddie.
“We have as much pride in our family history as you do in the City of Rossford. Perhaps this badge will help spur a new generation of service and community pride in my children,” Kolanko wrote.
“Ed has a lot of family that are from Rossford and many still live in Rossford. Not only is Ed the mayor of Walbridge and a friend of the city, he’s also a great personal friend. We really appreciate what Chief Wojnar did for the city and we are happy to return his badge to the family,” Rossford Mayor Neil MacKinnon III said.
Reminiscing, MacKinnon also related the annual bets he has with Kolanko on the Rossford High School and Lake High School football and basketball games. The loser has to wear the other team’s T-shirt for a day. Frequently, they make public appearances in the shirts.
Kolanko also expressed his appreciation and friendship with MacKinnon, joking about their years with the friendly bet.
