Youngstown firefighter Benjamin Hendershott, center, is presented with the Firefighter of the Year award by The Vindicator general manager Ted Snyder, left, as Jim Standohar, right, marketing manager for SERVPRO, looks on. SERVPRO, a fire and water damage restoration company, sponsored the award. Hendershott, 31, of Salem, has been a Youngstown firefighter since 2013. Staff photo / R. Michael Semple

YOUNGSTOWN — Benjamin Hendershott said he didn’t become a firefighter to receive honors and attention.

The 31-year-old Youngstown firefighter said he is grateful and humbled to be named the inaugural winner of The Vindicator’s Firefighter of the Year.

“It’s not really my thing to be the center of attention, but it’s nice to be recognized,” Hendershott said Thursday when accepting the award outside the city’s downtown fire station. “You don’t take this job for that reason.”

Hendershott, of Salem, said he wanted to be a firefighter for years before he was hired by Youngstown in 2013. Before that, he spent a few years at the Cardinal Joint Fire District in Canfield as a part-time firefighter and EMT.

“It seemed like an exciting career,” he said. “I get to be helpful to people. But I never thought I would be recognized like this.”

Youngstown Fire Capt. Timothy Frease said: “Ben’s a joy to work with. It’s outstanding to see him win an award for what he does at the department and in the community. He’s a great guy and I’m happy to see him honored.”

Frease added: “Ben works independently. He functions without being told what needs to be done. He also mentors other firefighters. He’s a great representative of the fire department.”

Ted Snyder, general manager of The Vindicator, said the newspaper wanted to recognize outstanding firefighters with the award.

“This is now going to be an annual award,” he said. “We hope it’s something other firefighters aspire to win. When there’s trouble, most people are running away from it. Firefighters run toward it and, in most cases, into it. We’re pleased to honor Benjamin with this award for the great service he provides to the public.”

Jim Standohar, marketing manager for SERVPRO, which sponsored The Vindicator’s Firefighter of the Year award, said: “We greatly respect what firefighters do. This was a great opportunity to honor them and to say, ‘thank you’ to them.”

SERVPRO is a fire and water damage restoration company that works with fire departments.

“We see what they do every day and we admire their work,” Standohar said.

Hendershott was nominated for the award by Lynn McGehee, his mother-in-law, who called him “a leader, an organizer and a team player.”

Hendershott has been married to his wife, Bethany, for five years. The two have a 9-month-old son, Beau.

dskolnick@tribtoday.com