Captain Kelly Walters

Kelly Walters has been in rescue more years than most of our crew members have been alive. Somehow through it all, he still makes running calls fun. If a call goes out, there is a good chance he is on it.

On September 27, 2003, Kelly was inducted into the Virginia Life Saving and Rescue Hall of Fame

In the over sixty year history of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, few individuals have shown the dedication, loyalty and commitment to Volunteer Rescue Squads as that of Kelly Brice Walters. Whether serving as squad member, a State or District Officer, Kelly's dedication is unmatched. Kelly has maintained throughout his entire life the ability to excel in each and every endeavor of the organization with which he has been affiliated.

Kelly attended Christiansburg High School and afterward began work at the Blue Ridge Overall Factory. He later worked as the caretaker for Summerset Cemetery. Later, he became Chief Animal Control Officer for Montgomery County from which he retired nineteen years later. He remains employed by the Town of Christiansburg as Department Head for the First Aid Crew. Kelly has been married for forty-six years to Virginia Gerald and they have one daughter, Nancy and one grandson, Bradley.

Nearly forty years ago, Kelly became a member of the Christiansburg Life Saving and First Aid Crew. He has served the crew in the offices of Treasurer, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant and Captain. During this time, he also served as Chairperson of every crew committee. In addition, he has assisted with the design and layout of each new, state of the art, ambulance purchased. Since his appointment to Department Head by the Town of Christiansburg, Kelly has served as Captain of the Crew and dedicates in excess of eighty hours weekly. Out of the three thousand calls answered annually by the crew, Kelly personally responded to approximately twelve hundred of these emergencies. He has been voted Crew Person of the Year on several occasions and was honored with Life Membership to the Christiansburg Life Saving and First Aid Crew. In August 2002, Kelly completed Emergency Medical Technician Certification at the young age of 66.

Kelly's commitment did not stop at the local level. He became active with District Seven where he served as District Vice President for five years and District Treasurer for five years. He has served on many District committees and remains active in the District.

The next step was at the State level. Kelly served as State Vice President for two years and as President from 1985-1987. He received Life Membership in the V.A.V.R.S. in 1979. Kelly served as Chairperson of the V.A. V.R.S. Nominating Committee on two occasions. He currently remains active as a member of both the Julian Stanley Wise Scholarship Committee and the Rescue College Committee. During his two years as V.A. V.R.S. President, he traveled throughout the Commonwealth making life long friends wherever visited.

Locally, Kelly is still very involved in the safety of his community. He is a member of the Fire and Rescue Task Force, Blue Ridge Environmental Task Force, Christiansburg Emergency Planning and Montgomery County Emergency Planning. He has attended many planning sessions on Homeland Security.

Kelly continues to dedicate his life to the Community of Christiansburg and the surrounding County of Montgomery that is serviced by his first aid crew. Kelly's thoughtfulness and love for his crew and fellow members exemplify his volunteer spirit through his dedication to his community, District Seven and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Kelly is truly a unique individual and we are proud to honor him by induction into the Virginia Life Saving and Rescue Hall of Fame.

September 27, 2003