On Tuesday, the Bogalusa Rotary Club honored Matt Williams as the “Firefighter of the Year.”

Bogalusa Fire Chief Richard Moody said that numerous employees at the Bogalusa Fire Department nominated Williams for the award this year. Moody said that Williams has been with the BFD for a little less than four years.

“He’s kind of what a chief would like,” Moody said. “You don’t hear no complaints. He just does his job, he shows up, and does what he needs to do. I’ve always been able to count on him.”

Moody said that Williams’ devotion to public safety doesn’t stop when he takes off his uniform. He noted that Williams and his wife, Nori, recently were coming back from a Michigan vacation at 2 a.m., when they stopped to assist at a wreck in Mississippi. Nori is a sheriff’s deputy with the St. Tammany Parish Office.

Moody said an 18-wheeler then hit them and injured them while they were helping with the wreck, but they have slowly recovered and Williams came back to work as soon as he was able to do so. The injury took place in December of 2017.

“He just stopped and was going to help these people,” Moody said. “He was still doing what he’s trained to do, and what he’s paid to do every day.

“He got back to work just as quick as he could. I told him to take his time with rehab and everything.”

Williams said he was humbled by the award, and that Nori deserved to share in the accolades as well.

“I just want to thank the city and fire department for giving me this award,” he said. “You don’t really know how to feel — you’re getting an award for something that you should do, and you’re supposed to do. I know it’s something that most people would do.

“It’s just something that we just knew to do, but I thank y’all for recognizing me today.”