MONCKS CORNER, S.C. — He’s 90 years old and still on fire.
Don Wilkins, a firefighting legend in South Carolina, was honored Saturday at the Berkeley County Emergency Training Center with the state’s highest civilian award — the Order of the Palmetto. The recognition comes after a jaw-dropping 57 years of service, including more than three decades with the Moncks Corner Fire Department.
The Order of the Palmetto is the highest civilian honor in South Carolina, awarded by the governor to individuals whose exceptional service has profoundly impacted the state and improved the lives of its people.
Wilkins, who turned 90 in December, has trained more than 25,000 firefighters over the years, racking up a mind-blowing 28,000 teaching hours since he started instructing at the South Carolina Fire Academy in 1979.
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The former assistant fire chief is also a U.S. Air Force vet and retired cop — a triple-threat public servant whose resume reads like a Hollywood script.
Senator Larry Grooms handed over the plaque, reading from emotional letters that praised Wilkins as a game-changer for public safety in South Carolina.
“South Carolina is a safer place to live, work, and visit because of his lifelong dedication,” one tribute read.
The standing ovation said it all — this 90-year-old hero may have put out fires, but on Saturday, he lit up the room.
The Moncks Corner Fire Department and Berkeley County Fire Chiefs’ Association hosted the event in Wilkins’ honor.
