Danny West, Chief of EMS Operations was recently honored and presented the Stanley Payne Memorial Region 1 EMS Leadership Award. This award is named after Stanley Payne who was a recognized leader in the Emergency Medical Service and was one of the three original employees of Floyd Medical Center EMS where he served as the director for decades until his untimely death. Chief West has served Cherokee County for over 25 years beginning his career in January 1990. He advanced through the firefighter ranks to Battalion Chief and accepted his current position as EMS Operations Chief in March of 2007. Chief West received the award from April Powers and Rick Payne, children of Stanley Payne.