GH Liford reflects on grit, growth and global wins in 2025 Firefighter Challenge season

Bri Rodriguez ECB Publishing, Inc.   After a bittersweet finish in 2024, one Monticello native firefighter, Gene Henry (GH) Liford, returned to the Firefighter Challenge circuit this year with renewed drive, a revamped training regimen and a goal to push past personal limits. It was a standout season marked by podium triumphs, state records and high distinction. “The course never gets easier,” he said. “You just get faster.” That mantra carried him through a demanding 2025 se