2012 LIFETIME HERO AWARD - Quentin Murdock, a World War II decorated veteran who served with courage and honor, earning a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, three Presidential Unit Citations, European Theater with Five campaigns medal, Combat Infantry Badge, the D-Day Medal, and the Victory Medal. He was involved in some of the fiercest battles of World War II (including being in the early waves of soldiers to go ashore on Omaha Beach). He underwent many trials in the service of our country during his 700 days of active duty, including being under enemy fire repeatedly and contracting malaria. After the war he became a farmer and is one of the pioneers of the above-ground sprinkler system. He also devised an innovative way to use potato waste products to feed cattle.
2012 ADULT GOOD SAMARITAN HERO AWARD - Roger Graves is the Utah State Coordinator for the Missing in America Project (MIAP) launched nationwide in January 2007 locates, identifies and inters the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans. The group coordinates with private, state, and federal organizations to secure a final resting place for forgotten heroes who have served our ountry assuring their funerals are performed with full military honors.
2012 COMMUNITY SAMARITAN HERO AWARD - Jon Smith is a radio announcer with FM Radio Station KZHK 95.9MHz. in St. George owned by Canyon Media. In 2011, he exchanged his microphone for an infantry combat helmet and set out for Iraq, broadcasting the entire journey "Live" via satellite and spending a week with the members of Utah Army National Guard’s 222nd Field Artillery and 213th Forward Support Company. He rallied community support from over 700 listeners who signed a banner which he presented to the troops.
2012 FIRST RESPONDERS HERO AWARD - John Brian is a volunteer member of the Washington City Public Safety Fire Department. He was responded to a medical call involving a 3-year-old girl whose finger was stuck in a hole in a wood-burning stove. For over an hour they tried several non-invasive methods to free her finger without success. Finally, a corner of the stove was cut off and she was transported to the hospital with a piece of the stove still attached to her finger. John held the girl and comforted her during the trip to the hospital. Doctors were unable to free her finger and felt that amputating her finger might be their only option. John remembered a tool he had at home that he thought might work to free her finger. He retrieved it and was successful at freeing her finger without damaging it. She has fully recovered.
2012 INTERNATIONAL HERO AWARD - Sean Sevy traveled to India in 2011 to work on A HELP International project where he helped build and install innovative sewage treatment systems in some of India’s poorest areas that were lacking any waste management. The lack of waste management caused many illnesses, some of which are life-threatening. Sean overcame language barriers and the resistance of local people to learning modern methods of construction. Despite the difficulties he remained positive and cheerful forming many friendships.
2012 MARINE/WATER RESCUE HERO AWARD - On July 2011, Jessee Brown and Ammon Puriri were at the annual Brown family reunion at Lake Powell where an accident involving a boat and Jet Skis occurred. Ammon’s leg was caught in the boat’s propeller and severely lacerated from ankle to knee. Jessee quickly got Ammon out of the water and wrapped his leg with towels and squeezed it tight to his chest to stop the bleeding. The group was many miles from any medical facility and Jessee continued to maintain pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding and keep Ammon calm for the next hour and a half until the Life Flight arrived. Ammon is alive and walking today because of the action and courage of his friend Jessee Brown.
2012 MEDICAL RESCUE HERO AWARD - Susan Little, a nurse supervisor for the Southwest Utah Public Health Department in the Garfield County at the Panguitch office. She went to lunch at the local Arby’s/Chevron where she and a co-worker found the front doors of the convenience store wide-open and a local man lying on the floor. After determining that he had no pulse, Susan began CPR, ultimately revived him.
2012 MILLITARY HERO AWARD - Dan Greathouse, a decorated war hero, is president of the Vietnam Veterans Southern Utah Chapter. He leads a monthly group discussion and provides ongoing support of Vietnam veterans. The group discussions are extremely beneficial to the well-being of the soldiers since most have never spoken about their war experiences. Dan also advises current military men and women, as well as the older veterans. He is responsible for coordinating the donation of adaptive equipment for veterans with physical disabilities and supporting veteran families during the holidays. He regularly speaks to students in middle school about his experience in Vietnam.
2012 WILDERNESS RESCUE HERO AWARD - Chris Deardon and Ray Trujillo (not pictured) on the night of August 5, 2011, after learning that a 44-year-old male had fallen from his horse and lost consciousness in a remote area of Pine Valley Mountain, the Paramedics for Iron County Ambulance, joined a rescue party in an attempt to save the man’s life. They travelled by foot and on 4x4s for several hours to reach the individual. Despite having limited medical supplies, they stabilized the man and watched over him throughout the night until he could be transported to a hospital by Life Flight.
2012 YOUTH GOOD SAMARITAN HERO AWARD - Kody Allen, a sophomore in high school, was snowmobiling in Idaho with family in March 2011. The weather suddenly changed drastically causing the team of snowmobilers to become disoriented and trapped in a ravine, with a 15 foot drop to a river. One individual hit a hole and was thrown into the river, breaking through the ice. Kody stopped the snowmobile from falling on top of the snowmobiler. Then helped pull him from the river and built a fire.
The Southern Utah Heroes were selected by a committee comprised of Cory Pulsipher, Washington County Sherriff; Dave Hawk, SERVPRO of St. George; Nina Heck of Oh My Heck Marketing; Splendor Sargent of Cherry Creek Radio Cares; Christina Schultz of Dixie State College and Paula Bell, Community Volunteer.
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Respectfully,
Mark Boehle
MIAP