Milford's Savage Days Ribs on the River July 8 honors late FOX 2 reporter, family man

(WJBK) - He was a newsman, a fireman, a family man. Our beloved friend and colleague Ron Savage passed away suddenly in February.

On Saturday July 8, the village of Milford where Ron Savage lived with his wife Mitzi and their son Ronnie, is paying tribute to Ron with the first annual "Savage Days- Ribs on the River."

The new downtown summer barbecue festival honors Ron Savage with a rib cook-off  following Kansas City Barbecue Society rules. Organizers are looking for more participants and anyone can compete. The contest fee is $50 which will go to the Ron Savage Memorial Foundation.

Ron Savage was a barbecue guy and loved manning the grill. There will be professionals and amateurs teams smoking, as well as Mitzi and one of Ron's brothers competing with Ron's banner Savage Smokers and his cooker.

The event, which will be held in Central Park, runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with family activities, bands and celebrity judges for the pro and amateur competitions. Proceeds will go to charities that Ron worked with like Ride for Autism, Thin Blue Line, The American Heart Association, Special Olympics and The Livingston County Humane Society among others.

There will be family fun activities like a bouncy house and dunk tank along with all the smoked food. Members of the FOX 2 family will be there and we hope you will too.

Organizers Debbie Stroup and Bear Hall with the Ron Savage Memorial Foundation stopped by and spoke about the event. For additional information CLICK HERE for the Savage Days Ribs on the River Facebook page.