The Liberal Fire Department is pleased to announce that Lieutenant Tyson Rice has been selected as the American Legion’s “Firefighter of the Year” for Kansas and for the Midwest Region. As the Midwest Regional winner, he is now in consideration for the National Firefighter of the Year for the American Legion. Lieutenant Rice attended the Department of Kansas State Convention in Topeka, Kansas, on May 18, 2013, to receive his award. He was presented with a plaque and allowed to address the convention. Even though he attended the Kansas Convention, his designation as the Midwest winner represents nine states (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio). Lieutenant Rice joined the Liberal Fire Department five years ago as a Firefighter and began moving up the ranks to his current position as Lieutenant. He joins Fire Inspector Cody Regier as the only two Firefighters from the Liberal Fire Department to ever receive this prestigious award. Inspector Regier was chosen as the 2012 Midwest Regional winner and was runner-up for the National Firefighter of the Year.