At the 871st meeting of the Southwest Louisiana Mutual Aid Association, an awards presentation was made to Fire Chief Emeritus Michael L. Kuk, PhD. The event was held on Nov. 12 in Westlake during the monthly meeting of the organization.

Kuk was awarded the 2025 Emergency Responder of the Year Award. The award’s certificate states “Devotion to Duty, for over 60 years, has remained a constant in his life and calling as a dedicated public servant and Firefighter.”

The Southwest Louisiana Mutual Aid Association was formed in 1952, and is comprised of emergency responders across all disciplines of private industry and public service agencies.

Chief Kuk served as its president during 1981-1983 while he was Moss Bluff’s fire chief. Of special note is that he became the first president to be elected for more than one term, due to the many accomplishments that were made during his tenure.

The presentation was made by the current Mutual Aid President, Chief Robby Trahan of the Ward One Fire District, and Acadian Ambulance Supervisor Billy Vincent.

Although Kuk is the retired Fort Polk Fire Chief and a Vietnam Veteran, but he continues to serve as a Vernon Parish firefighter and chaplain, assigned to the Hornbeck Volunteer Fire Department.

He remains a published author, and his book “An Army Firefighter in Vietnam 1970-1971”, became the recipient of the 2023 Benjamin Franklin Writers’ Award.

Chief Kuk has been serving as the president of the Vernon Parish Library Executive Board for several years, and is a well-known professional musician.

He is also a US Senatorial nominee for the position of the United States Fire Administrator.