IAFF-MG Enjoys Friendly Ride from Houston to Galveston

From left: Troy Ramberger (Houston Local 341 and Red Knights member), Ricky Walsh (Richland, WA Local 1052, IAFF 7th District Vice President and IAFF-MG and Renegade Pigs member), Bob York (Wichita Falls, TX Local 432 and IAFF-MG member) and David Inouye (Houston Local 341 and Wind & Fire member).

July 6, 2007 -- More than 55 riders risked a storm advisory that never materialized to participate in the Motorcycle Group Bike Ride to Galveston, Texas, held June 24 in conjunction with the IAFF 9th Biennial Dominick F. Barbera EMS Conference in Houston, Texas. Houston Local 341 and the IAFF-MG sponsored the ride from Houston to the seawall in Galveston.

Riders enjoyed a police escort out of Houston, as well as escorts from the Red Knights Motorcycle Club, the Galveston Fire Marshals Office and the Galveston Police Department as the parade of bikers entered town. Riders, including Houston Local 341 President Roland Chavez, joined members of Galveston, TX Local 571 on Main Street. Local 571 provided lunch at a local watering hole on the Gulf Coast.

From left: Bob York, Wichita Falls, TX Local 432 and IAFF-MG member; David Elliot, Houston Local 341 ride coordinator; and Ricky Walsh, IAFF-MG chairman and 7th District Vice President.

Members of several other motorcycle clubs participated in the ride, including the Renegade Pigs, Wind & Fire and Red Knights – all of whom are seeking dual enrollment following the friendly ride to the Gulf Coast of Texas.

The inaugural IAFF-MG Motorcycle Ride was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in conjunction with the 2005 IAFF EMS Conference.