07/06/2026
It has been a while since we have done a staff spotlight, and today we would like to remedy that with a spotlight on Instructor Ritchie. Ritchie is one of our Kansas Instructors (who will be teaching at our Kansas Clinic in October *hint, hint*).
Ritchie has spent 24 years in service to the Topeka Fire Department, 20 years in the Honor Guard with 13 years as an instructor for HGCS, 7 years as a Sector Commander for the IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial, and 4 years as a Deputy Commander with the Kansas Funeral Assistance Team.
He has led his life in dedication to others; he has mentored and taught Honor Guard members not just from Kansas, but from all over the U.S. and Canada. He has organized and led numerous retirement walkouts and ceremonies, and we at the HGCS had the pleasure of being there for his own walkout and retirement celebration this last week.
He is an incredibly humble man, with the biggest heart, and full of so much wisdom, compassion, and many humorous anecdotes.
Ritchie is not only a friend to us here at HGCS, but he is family; and last week, he welcomed us into his world, shared with us his own family and home, and reiterated to everyone why what we do is so important.
So happy retirement to Ritchie, and if you haven't signed up for the Kansas Clinic, make sure to do so before it is too late! You don't want to miss out on learning from one of the best.
