When Corporal Brian Maskey of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department was named recipient of the Old Threshers Show Hometown Hero Award on Saturday, he didn’t waste time talking about how much Wellsville Fire Captain Jeff Moore meant to him.

“He’s a hero out of everyone that I know at Wellsville,” said Maskey, who knew Moore all of his life. “Even on a flat tire, he was driving to the Wellsville Fire House to go help someone.”

Maskey earned a plaque and was awarded a check of $1,421.21 that was raised in the Hometown Hero contest. He gave the money to Moore’s family.
Moore died on Aug. 3 at age 65 in a two-tractor crash that occurred on Interstate 70 between High Hill and Jonesburg. He worked for the Wellsville Fire Protection District for 34 years.

“I was born and raised in Montgomery County,” Maskey said. “I’m very thankful for everyone who came forward to donate on my behalf. But knowing that we were giving it to Jeff Moore and his family meant even more to all of us. He tragically lost his life in a car accident. We thought his family deserved it. Being a first responder in Montgomery County, we take pride in it either at the law enforcement side, the fire department side or the EMS side, we’re happy to do what we do day or night. I’m just thankful to be part of it.”

Moore gave the money to Wellsville Fire Chief Richard Wilson during the awards presentation.

Moore was posthumously nominated for the Hometown Hero award.

“I think I’m all cried out,” Wilson said. “It just means that the whole county is behind the first responders and him personally. He made a lot of friends throughout the county. Everybody came together and immediately wanted to donate the money to his family.”

The other Hometown Hero candidates were Jessica Arens of the Bellflower Fire Department and Josh Waters of the Montgomery Fire Protection District. The awards presentation was held at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds’ Family Arena.

All first responders in Montgomery County are eligible to participate in the Hometown Hero contest, which was in its second year.

A 2002 Wellsville-Middletown High School graduate, Maskey has spent more than 20 years in law enforcement. He also works for the Wellsville Fire Department and is a member of the fire department’s board.

Maskey was recently promoted to the detective bureau of the Sheriff’s Department. Three years ago, he was the first pilot of the Sheriff’s Department drone program.

“I enjoy it,” Maskey said. “You live it. You just can’t do it halfway. You can’t be lukewarm with it. You have to do it all or none. There are a lot of people who need help. On the law enforcement side, you have to think about the people who don’t have voices, either. On the detective side, I have to be able to help them get justice to what happened to them. It’s time-consuming, but I enjoy doing what I do. We all do.”

Maskey said he enjoys living in a county that has plenty of workers who provide help during an emergency.

“Montgomery County has a lot of first responders,” Maskey said. “These volunteers get up day and night to come out and help for free.”

Being a first responder became a passion for Maskey when he was a young boy. He would receive cop items for Christmas. He had a bicycle that had lights and sirens. His great-grandfather John Nation worked as Montgomery County sheriff and his stepfather was a county deputy.

“My dream came true,” Maskey said.

Maskey also enjoys going to the Old Threshers Show, which wrapped up its 49th year of celebrating the county’s farming heritage on Sunday. His grandparents used to take him to the event all of the time.

“This is part of my life,” Maskey said.