Lojka spent 29 years at the Midwest City Fire Department and served in several roles, including firefighter, inspector, investigator, public education officer, public information officer and fire marshal.
His favorite job was that of department spokesman as he answered questions from the press, and conveyed important fire prevention tips to the public.
Midwest City School graduate Lester Claravall will receive the prestigious Lewis Hines Award for Service to Children and Youth during a ceremony in New York City on Monday.
The award will be presented by the National Child Labor Committee, which serves as the sponsor for the Lewis Hines awards...
Several people will be honored for their civic contributions at the Del City Chamber of Commerce banquet and awards ceremony Feb. 2 at the newly-renovated community center, 4505 SE 15th Street.
The banquet is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Among those who will be honored is the late Gene Piper, who served Del City as a developer and community activist for many years. Piper will be inducted posthumously into the Del City Hall of Fame for his work to build Del City.
Piper worked for longtime Del City developer George Epperly in the 1960s as one of his property managers.
Others who will be honored include Mid-Del Board of Education member Melissa Elzo, who will receive the Del City Eagle Loyalty Award for her years of dedicated service to the chamber. In addition, Connie Myrick will a receive Presidential Service Award.
Myrick, coordinator of Career Services at Rose State College, will be honored for her years of service in connection with the DelQuest leadership program.
The chamber also will recognize the 552nd Air Control Wing in honor of its 35th anniversary and for its work to preserve world peace.
The chamber’s Outstanding Business of the Year will be engineering consultant JGVE, Inc. Alan Coffin will be recognized as the Del City Employee of the Year, and homeschool student Payden Donaldson will be given the DelQuest Student Leadership Award for 2011.
The banquet theme is media-related and is titled “2011: A Newsworthy Year.” word@eastwordnews.com