News Release
Governor Awards Montana Heroes
9/25/2002
Myrna Omholt-Mason
406-444-3111
meboyer@state.mt.us
“It is difficult for most of us to imagine what we would do in the midst of a life-threatening emergency,” said Governor Martz in honoring the individuals. “There are those among us today who have lived through the terror of such an experience. It is a life-changing experience. These individuals are truly heroes, placing their own lives at risk to assist others.”
This year’s award recipients are:
Sue Nicholson, Kalispell Governor’s Special Recognition Award
Sgt. Tom Steber, Elliston Governor’s Medal of Valor
Allyson Wallace, Kila Governor’s Medal of Valor
(see attached summaries)
The Governor’s Special Recognition Award is given in honor of an individual took immediate and selfless action to assist others in 2001.
The Governor’s Medal of Valor is reserved for Montanans who have displayed extraordinary courage in a situation threatening the lives of one or more people.
“With last year’s events of September 11 still so fresh in our minds, I think that Americans and Montanans hold a much higher value for those who selflessly risk their lives to save the lives of others,” said Governor Martz. “It is a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving that I hope will never fade.”
“All of today’s recipients are well deserving of this recognition,” Governor Martz continued. “Their extreme sacrifices saved the lives of others. We in Montana can be proud of these ordinary people who have stepped forward in a time of to accomplish extraordinary deeds.”
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Award Recipient Summaries
Sue Nicholson
Last summer, Sue had joined her friend, Irene Loveless for an afternoon in the summer sun at Upper Thompson Lake near Libby. Richie and Trent Hoffman, Irene’s great grandsons, were fishing from the dock at the lake. Both were wearing their lifejackets. Trenton slipped and fell into the lake. He was splashing and screaming, and began to float away from the dock.
Sue saw Trenton, and ran down the steep hill from where she was seated. She dove into the water, grabbed Trenton and brought him back to shore. After bringing him to shore, Sue cleared his airway. After the ordeal was over, Sue came up to the house. She informed the witnesses there that she doesn’t even know how to swim.
Sergeant First Class Tom Steber
Last June, Greg Warhank was traveling home over McDonald Pass on Highway 12. While driving, Greg suffered a brain aneurysm. Greg lost consciousness, and his vehicle crashed on the highway, coming to rest in a precarious position, with the potential to roll down the mountain.
Sergeant Steber came upon the accident, and, without concern for his own safety, crawled inside the vehicle, clearing away parts of the interior to reach Greg. Sergeant Steber repositioned the Greg and provided life support. Greg had suffered a collapsed lung, had broken his neck in two places and was bleeding extensively.
According to Sergeant Michael Tooley, who came upon the accident, “I have been involved in the investigation of motor vehicle crashes fro 18 years as a Highway Patrol Officer. In my experience, the successful effort that Sergeant Steber made that day to save the life of Mr. Warhank was one of the most heroic I have witnessed. The 17-year-old boy I thought would be severely handicapped by this event has since fully recovered and gone on to college. I believe that Sergeant Steber deserves a lot of credit for that outcome.”
Allyson Wallace
Allyson Wallace is a young girl whose incredibly heroic actions most likely saved the lives of her family. Allyson had planned to spend part of spring break with her grandmother. However, the night before leaving, she dreamt that the neighbor’s house was on fire. She decided that she should stay home instead of visiting her grandmother.
Sleeping on the couch that night, Allyson woke up to flames in the living room. She ran to her parents’ room, and woke them to warn them of the fire. Allyson’s father put out the fire, which had spread to the curtains and ceiling panels in the family’s trailer home. Due to Allyson’s quick thinking, the trailer was saved and Allyson and her parents got out of the home safely.
According to Allyson’s grandmother, who submitted her for this award, “If Allyson hadn’t stayed home and slept on the couch that night, the older trailer probably would have burned to the ground with my son and daughter-in-law in it.”
Montana Medal of Valor Award Ceremony
Remarks of Governor Judy Martz
September 25, 2002 – 11:00 a.m.
Speaking Time: 10 Minutes
***Check Against Delivery***
Thank you, Adjutant General Prendergast. It is an honor to join all of you today in celebration of the heroic actions taken by three courageous Montanans this past year. How blessed we are to live in a state where people care about each other. Neighbors helping neighbors . . . it happens across Montana and reflects a quality of life that draws people to our state.
Today, we will recognize individuals who have offered more than neighborly aid. They have placed their own lives at risk in an attempt to save another person in a life and death situation.
It is difficult for most of us to imagine what we would do in the midst of a life-threatening emergency. There are those among us today who have lived through the terror of such an experience. It is a life-changing experience. These individuals are truly heroes, placing their own lives at risk to assist others.
We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.
It is my pleasure to present two different awards today, the Governor’s Special Recognition Award and the Montana Medal of Valor.
First, I want to recognize the Governor’s Special Recognition Award recipient. This individual took immediate and selfless action to assist others in 2001.
Could Sue Nicholson please come forward?
Sue Nicholson
Our first honoree is a woman from Kalispell. Last summer, Sue had joined her friend, Irene Loveless for an afternoon in the summer sun at Upper Thompson Lake near Libby. Richie and Trent Hoffman, Irene’s great grandsons, were fishing from the dock at the lake. Both were wearing their lifejackets.
Suddenly, Trenton slipped and fell into the lake. He was splashing and screaming, and began to float away from the dock.
Sue saw Trenton, and ran down the steep hill from where she was seated. She dove into the water, grabbed Trenton and brought him back to shore. After bringing him to shore, Sue cleared his airway.
After the ordeal was over, Sue came up to the house. She informed the witnesses there that she doesn’t even know how to swim.
Sue – you sure knew how to swim in that situation. On behalf of all Montanans, I thank you for your bravery in saving the life of Trenton.
[Medal of Valor Recipients]
I would now like to recognize our two Medal of Valor Recipients.
This honor is reserved for Montanans who have displayed extraordinary courage in a situation threatening the lives of one or more people.
To be eligible for the Montana Medal of Valor, nominees must be a citizen of the State of Montana who, at risk of death, endeavored to save others from a life-threatening situation.
Sergeant First Class Tom Steber
Would Sergeant Tom Steber please come forward?
Last June, Greg Warhank was traveling home over McDonald Pass on Highway 12. While driving, Greg suffered a brain aneurysm. Greg lost consciousness, and his vehicle crashed on the highway, coming to rest in a precarious position on a rock, with the potential to roll down the mountain.
Sergeant Tom Steber, a member of the Montana Army National Guard, and a resident of Elliston, came upon the accident. Without concern for his own safety, crawled inside the vehicle, clearing away parts of the interior to reach Greg. Sergeant Steber repositioned the Greg and provided life support. Greg had suffered a collapsed lung, had broken his neck in two places and was bleeding extensively.
According to Sergeant Michael Tooley, who came upon the accident, “I have been involved in the investigation of motor vehicle crashes fro 18 years as a Highway Patrol Officer. In my experience, the successful effort that Sergeant Steber made that day to save the life of Mr. Warhank was one of the most heroic I have witnessed. The 17-year-old boy I thought would be severely handicapped by this event has since fully recovered and gone on to college. I believe that Sergeant Steber deserves a lot of credit for that outcome.”
On behalf of all Montanans, I thank you, Tom Steber, for your heroic efforts. [shake hands with Tom and start applause]
Allyson Wallace
Our final award recipient today was unable to join us, but I would like to share her story. Allyson Wallace is a young girl from Kila, Montana, whose incredibly heroic actions most likely saved the lives of her family.
Allyson had planned to spend part of spring break with her grandmother. However, the night before leaving, she dreamt that the neighbor’s house was on fire. She decided that she should stay home instead of visiting her grandmother.
Sleeping on the couch that night, Allyson woke up to flames in the living room. She ran to her parents’ room, and woke them up to warn them of the fire.
Allyson’s father was able to put out the fire, which had spread to the curtains and ceiling panels in the family’s three-bedroom trailer home.
Due to Allyson’s quick thinking, the trailer was saved and Allyson and her parents got out of the home safely.
According to Allyson’s grandmother, who submitted her for this award, “If Allyson hadn’t stayed home and slept on the couch that night, the older trailer probably would have burned to the ground with my son and daughter-in-law in it.”
Again, on behalf of all Montanans, our thanks and appreciation goes out to Allyson for her quick thinking in the face of extreme danger.
With last year’s events of September 11 still so fresh in our minds, I think that Americans and Montanans hold a much higher value for those who selflessly risk their lives to save the lives of others.
It is a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving that I hope will never fade.
To all of our recipients, I want to again thank you on behalf of all Montanans.
All of today’s recipients are well deserving of this recognition. Their extreme sacrifices saved the lives of others. We in Montana can be proud of these ordinary people who have stepped forward in a time of to accomplish extraordinary deeds.
I would also like to thank the recipients’ families and friends for attending today's event. And a special thanks to those who assisted with this ceremony, including General Prendergast, the Montana National Guard, the Center Stage Acappella Quartet, and June Rychalski and Colleen Stricker for providing refreshments.
God Bless each and every one of you.
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