High honor - Gowanda Police Chief Joe Alessi, left, and Gowanda Mayor Dick Klancer, right, congratulate Bob Coudrey at his swearing-in as president of the Southwestern Association of Volunteer Firemen.
Coudrey elected president of SAVF
Robert Coudrey, a 47-year veteran of the Gowanda Volunteer Fire Department, was elected president of the Southwestern Association of Volunteer Firemen at the 2003 Convention in Tonawanda.
Coudrey is a life member of the Southwestern Association, which includes firefighters from Allegany County, Cattaraugus County, Chautauqua County and Erie County.
He is a past president of the Gowanda VFD, Cattaraugus County Volunteer Firemen's Association, and has chaired several committees in the organizations. He remains very active in the GFD, being recognized as the Top Responder of the Year 2000.
Coudrey received the Outstanding Firefighter Award from Cattaraugus County VFA (1991), Southwestern AVF (1994) and the Gowanda VFD (1999).
The Southwestern AVF Convention moves to Gowanda on Aug. 4, 5, 6, 7, 2004 in honor of Coudrey as president.