CAMBRIDGE — Calvin Stack Jr.’s 50 years of service to the people of Cambridge and Maryland have not gone unnoticed. On Thursday, with colleagues and family members in attendance, Mr. Stack accepted the Chief Leslie B. Thompson Award from Jeff Thompson (no relation) of the Maryland Fire Chiefs’ Association.

“This is the highest award that can be bestowed on someone from the Maryland Fire Chiefs,” he said. “The award is given to someone who makes an impact in improving the fire service in Maryland.”

Mr. Stack has worked in a variety of leadership roles not only in the RFC, but also in groups including the Delmarva Firemen’s Association and the Eastern Shore of Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association. He thanked the members of RFC for their cooperation over the years, saying, “They support everything I’ve done.”

Chief Thompson was a native of Damascus in Montgomery County, where he was not only a firefighter, but also a police officer. After his retirement, he moved to Chestertown.

Upon his death in 1996, Damascus and Chestertown became sister cities, and co-sponsored the award in the chief’s memory. Mr. Stack is the 23rd to receive it.

“The Maryland Fire Chiefs’ Association was founded to represent the volunteer and career Officer Corp of the fire and emergency services of the state of Maryland in 1946,” the group’s website says. “We sponsor education and information for chief officers of the fire and EMS services as well as represent our members for legislative and government issues affecting both the fire and EMS services but also the safety of the residents of Maryland, which is our paramount concern.”

As for the trophy which will remain at headquarters in the Public Safety Building for one year, “RFC will cherish it,” Mr. Stack said.