SSVFD President Johnie F. Roth Jr. Receives the 2020 Marbery F. Gates Service Cup Award

Johnie F. Roth Jr., President of the Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department (SSVFD) has been selected by the Maryland State Firemen Association (MSFA) to receive the prestigious Marbery F. Gates Service Cup Award for 2020.

This award was established by the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department and accepted by the MSFA Executive Committee in 1981 to honor the over fifty (50) years of active service performed by charter member, Marbery F. Gates of the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department.  The initial award was presented to Mr. Gates on June 15, 1981, at the 86th Annual MSFA Convention.  Mr. Gates served on the MSFA Board of Trustees from 1969 through 1989.  The mission of the MSFA is to serve, promote, advocate, and represent the interests of the volunteer fire, rescue and emergency medical services of Maryland.

The MSFA Selection Committee receives nominations by April 15^th of each year. The President of the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, the sponsoring Department, serves on the selection committee.  After careful consideration a selection is made by May 20^th.  The award is normally presented each June at the MSFA Convention and Conference in Ocean City, MD.

President Roth would have received his recognition at the 128^th Convention this past summer (2020) but the Convention was postponed and eventually cancelled due to CONVID-19 restrictions.  The Marbery F. Gates Service Cup Award was presented to President Roth during a monthly meeting of the Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department which was held virtually.  President Roth is the 40^th recipient of the Award.

Johnie F. Roth, Jr. began his volunteer career in 1967 with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in Montgomery County.  He joined the Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department in March 1977 where he eventually became a Life Member.  Mr. Roth has served in every Operational Position at SSVFD from Master Firefighter to Fire Chief.  Mr. Roth was one of the original Paramedics for Sandy Spring VFD when Montgomery County instituted the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Program.

Mr. Roth currently holds the Administrative Position of President at SSVFD, a position in which he has served numerous times.

He is being recognized for his over 50 years of continuous and faithful service to these member organizations of the MSFA and to the MSFA itself.

Mr. Roth completed a 5-year leadership progression with the MSFA culminating as the 123^rd President for the state-wide organization, serving from June 2015 to June 2016.  President Roth was only the second person from the SSVFD to serve as MSFA President.  Mr. Roth continues to serve the MSFA on legislative matters of interest to the fire services in the State during the legislative session in Annapolis.

This year he also served as Vice President of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (MCVFRA), representing the County’s 19 local fire and rescue department (LFRD’s).

The impressive Marbery F. Gates Cup remains in the responsible custody of the honored individual’s fire department (SSVFD) during the year the award is made.  A personal Marbery Cup, also suitably endorsed, is presented to the individual to covet and keep forever.  President Roth will also receive the Marbery F. Gates Medal and Ribbon Bar, which was approved by the Executive Committee in 2002.  The ribbon is gold with four stripes of purple and the gold medal is inscribed as Marbery F. Gates Award.  In addition, each individual nominated, receives an MSFA Plaque and Governors Citation the first year nominated and any sequential years a MSFA certificate recognizing them for their Continuous and Faithful Service.

Mr. Roth is retired after working 30 years as a News Video Cameraman for NBC News in Washington, DC where he was assigned primarily to the White House.

Mr. Roth lives in Brookeville, Maryland and is married to Marcia Roth who serves on the SSVFD Auxiliary. She most recently served as President of the Auxiliary to the Maryland State Firemen’s Association from June 2018-June 2019 after “going through the chairs” of that organization, a 13 year process. The Roth’s have two adult children (Eric and Rachel) both of whom serve with the SSVFD Auxiliary.