Heartfelt Legacy Rides On: Joseph Volunteer Fire Department Raffles Custom Harley for Station Expansion

By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

JOSEPH – Generosity, community spirit, and a touch of open-road nostalgia came together in Joseph, Oregon, as the Joseph Volunteer Fire Department drew the winning ticket for a custom 1990 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, all to help build a bigger, safer home for their life-saving gear.

The raffle was made possible by a deeply personal gift from Debbie Surface, a longtime supporter of the department. Following the passing of Brad Peterson, Debbie chose to donate his cherished custom motorcycle to the Friends of Joseph Fire Department to raise vital funds for the station’s building expansion project. Debbie was quoted as saying, “I donated the motorcycle in Brad Peterson‘s name who was a volunteer fire department member in Gresham, Oregon, who had been living in Joseph since 2011 he passed away July 4, 2023.”

Honoring a Legacy to Protect the Future

The department’s main station, located right across from the rodeo grounds, holds a fleet of rescue apparatus that protect the local community every day. With the station bursting at the seams, the raffle was organized to help fund a crucial extension to house equipment properly and construct a dedicated room to protect firefighters’ turnout gear from vehicle exhaust.

Thanks to the efforts of a friend of the department and community member Jeff Brookshire, who helped retrieve and orchestrate the bike’s arrival, the stunning Fat Boy became the centerpiece of a 500-ticket fundraising drive.

“We want to give a special thank you to Debbie for donating Brad’s bike to us,” said Chief Jeffrey Wecks during the live drawing, joined by Assistant Chief Splinter, Captain Vince Radford, and members of the volunteer crew. “We do a lot with Debbie, and we appreciate everything she does for us.”

The Big Moment

Surrounded by the fire crew at the station, volunteer Shane gave the ticket box a thorough shake before dumping the entries into a traditional firefighter’s helmet.

With everyone holding their breath, Debbie herself reached in to pick the winning entry: Ticket #250.

The lucky winner was local supporter Brandon Miller. Joseph Fire Department placed a live phone call to deliver the good news right on the spot. While Miller was home sick, his excitement was clear as he learned his ticket purchase had snagged him the iconic ride.

A Community Coming Together

While Brandon Miller takes the keys to a stunning piece of motorcycle history, the real winner is the entire town of Joseph. Thanks to Debbie Surface’s selfless donation, Brad’s memory lives on, not just in the roar of a Harley engine, but in the expanded walls of a fire station that keeps the whole community safe.