Dateline: September 14, 2006

Howardwick firemen honored by Perry

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

AUSTIN – On the 5th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, Gov. Rick Perry awarded the 2006 Star of Texas Award to 49 first responders Monday for heroic sacrifice in the line of duty – including three firemen from Howardwick.

Jeff Cook, Joey Garcia, and the late James McMorries were all honored in the State Capitol for injuries they suffered when their fire truck overturned during the March 12 wildfire in Gray County.

“September 11th instilled in us all a renewed sense of appreciation for all the men and women who are first upon the scene of tragedy,” Perry said. “Today we pay special honor to the 49 men and women who have earned the 2006 Star of Texas Award for heroic sacrifice in the line of duty.”

The Star of Texas Award was created by the Texas Legislature in 2003 to honor Texas’ first responders. Awards are issued annually for each peace officer, firefighter, and emergency medical first responder who is seriously injured or killed in the line of duty.

“On behalf of 23 million Texans, I offer the salute of a people forever in your debt,” Perry said. “As thousands of Texans who have had their prayers answered in their hour of need can testify, every peace officer, every fire fighter and every emergency medical team member has earned our respect and admiration.

“We will never forget the bravery of the Americans who are willing to lay down their lives to save lives,” Perry said. “Today, we give thanks for the invaluable service our first responders provide; and we will celebrate the freedom, health, and security they help provide everyday we are blessed to breathe the air of freedom.”

He noted that September 11 was the appropriate day to honor seriously injured and fallen first responders.

“On that darkest of days as we saw the most dreadful side of humanity, we found a light of hope in the heroic actions of America’s first responders. The images of hundreds of men and women wading upstream through a river of fleeing victims to save those who could not save themselves are forever burned in our nation’s conscience.”

Other Panhandle recipients of the Star of Texas included: Department of Public Safety Trooper Matthew Dewayne Myrick of Hereford, who on January 20 was killed in a traffic accident while responding to an injury accident; Amarillo Police Dept. Patrolman Mark Steven Simmons, Jr., who sustained life-threatening injuries to his head on March 24, 2005, when he and his partner positioned their police unit to intercept a suspect vehicle that was involved in a pursuit when their unit was struck by a large pick-up truck; and Captain Gary Lynn Winton of the Pampa Fire Department, who on April 6, 2006, was on the front of a fire truck fighting a grass fire when the truck made a sudden jolt, throwing Winton off the truck and causing serious injuries to his shoulder.