The National Volunteer Fire Council has named Fire Chief Lawrence F. “Sonny” Ruff of the Logan (Kan.) Fire Department its 2006 NVFC Volunteer Firefighter of the Year.

Citing Ruff’s lifelong service and outstanding contributions to the volunteer fire service, the NVFC presented the award Oct. 21 during the NVFC Fall Board Meeting in Bend, Ore. In addition to receiving the NVFC award, Ruff also was honored by the Kansas State Firefighters Association during the ceremony.

Ruff has been head of the Logan Fire Department since 1962 and is active in the KSFFA. He began his long and distinguished fire service career when he joined the department in 1960. When he was appointed chief two years later, the city had a 1936 Ford fire truck, an alarm whistle and no turnout gear.

Under Ruff’s leadership, the department was able to order the first-ever turnout gear for its firefighters and its first new fire truck in 1964. The following year, a rural fire district covering four townships was formed, and two more new trucks ordered. Ruff’s department soon built a larger fire station, and growth did not stop. The district enlarged in 1975 to include another full township and parts of three others, and in the 1980s it added a second fire station and expanded coverage to include two more townships.

In addition to his 46 years of service with the Logan Fire Department, Ruff has served as the NVFC Kansas director and currently is the alternate NVFC director for the state. He served as the Phillips County director of emergency preparedness for 10 years and has taught thousands of hours of classes at the Kansas State Firefighters Regional Fire School and at Kansas State University.