Public Service Awards
Presenting the 2022 EMS Commendation Medal and Certificate to Blanco County EMS Chief Ben Oakley. Pictured L to R are Blair Rudy, Kris Krueger, Chief Oakley, Judge Brett Bray, Eric Mowles, and Robert Duckworth. Link to the video here
Lou Colantoni Presenting the EMT Commendation Medal to Firefighter Skyler Overton on Oct. 20, 2020.
Lou Colantoni Presenting the Fire Safety Commendation Medal to Engineer Brett Parker on Oct. 20, 2020.
Lou Colantoni presents (from left to right) the Heroism Medal to Deputy Eddy Luna, the Life Saving Medal to Deputy Rene Luna, the Flag Certificate to Sheriff Mark Reynolds, and the Law Enforcement Commendation Medal to Deputy Nick Nolte on Oct. 26, 2020.
San Marcos Police Officer
Ed Bradshaw receives the
Law Enforcement Medal
in November 2019..
San Marcos Police Officer
Jacinto Melendrez receives the
Life Saving Medal in November 2019 for saving the life of his fellow officer.
Comal County Deputy Christian Stewart receives the Heroism Medal and Seguin Fireman and EMT Edward Reid receives the Fire Safety and EMS Medals. Both men received their awards in December 2019.
Previous Award Ceremonies
It was an honor to welcome special guests to the 2015 Public Service Awards Ceremony held at the November meeting. Accompanying the Awardees and their families was Sheriff Bob Holder, Lt. Michael Smith, and Chief Deputy Brent Paullus.
Firefighter of the Year is Adam Mueller, who is also a paramedic. In addition, he is also an active member in the Pipes and Drums and the Firefighter's Association. For consistently going above and beyond his normal duties, he received the "Fire Safety Commendation Award".
Deputy Robert Huerta is the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. He served in the US Army and has been a Deputy since 2001. He is an Assistant Team Leader on the S.W.A.T. Team and helped found the Comal Couty Sheriff's Officer Honor Guard. He is also a Field Training Officer and is currently assigned to the Traffic Unit.
Chosen for her valor is Crime Scene Technician Tracy Wakeman. On April 3rd, 2015, she and Deputy Danny Valenzuela were flagged down on US 281 at Spring Branch. They discovered an unconscious driver in his pick-up truck against a concrete barrier with the motor at full throttle. While Deputy Valenzuela rescued the driver from the vehicle, Tracy extinguished the fire that had started under the vehicle. For her actions on this day she is awarded the "Medal for Heroism".
Receiving the "Emergency Medical Services Award" as Paramedic of th Year is Firefighter Stuart Toeppich. Besides providing excellent patient care, he pursues additional training and education whenever possible which he in turn shares with his co-workers.
Chosen for his valor is Deputy Danny Valenzuela. On April 3rd, 2015 he and Crime Scene Technician, Tracy Wakeman, were flagged down on US281 at Spring Branch. They discovered an unconscious driver in his pick up truck against a concrete barrier with the motor at full throttle. When a fire started under the truck, Deputy Valenzuela broke into the passsenger side of the truck, turned off the ignition, and rescued the driver. For his actions on this day, Deputy Valenzuela received the "Medal for Heroism" award.
Public Service Award Recipients and SAR Officers
Pictured L to R: Patrick Hollis, Registrar, Adam Mueller, Danny Valenzuela, Stuart Hoyt, President, Stuart Toeppich, Tracy Wakeman, Robert Huerta, and Lou Colantoni, Public Service Awards Committee Chairman.
Comal County Sheriff Department Recipients
Stuart Hoyt, President, Crime Scene Technician Tracy Wakeman, Sheriff Bob Holder, Deputy Danny Valenzuela, and Deputy Robert Huerta.
It was an honor to welcome special guests to the 2016 Public Service Awards Ceremony held at the November meeting.
Firefighter/Paramedic Richard Chalk of the Seguin Fire Department receives the Emergency Medical Services Award from President Stu Hoyt. Standing to the right of Richard is Lou Colantoni, Chairman, Public Safety Awards.
Deputy Martin Ferguson of the Comal County Sheriff's Department receives the Medal of Heroism Award from President Stu Hoyt. Standing to the right of Martin is Lou Colantoni, Chairman, Public Safety Awards.
Firefighter Ryan Hale of the Seguin Fire Department receives the Fire Safety Commendation Award from President Stu Hoyt. Standing to the right of Ryan is Lou Colantoni, Chairman, Public Safety Awards.
Sheriff Bob Holder of the Comal County Sheriff's Department receives the Law Enforcement Commendation Medal from President Stu Hoyt. Standing to the right of Bob is Lou Colantoni, Chairman, Public Safety Awards.
Pictured L to R: Michael Pryor, Registrar; Lou Colantoni, Chairman, Public Safety Awards; Ryan Hale; Bob Holder; Richard Chalk; Martin Ferguson; Stu Hoyt, President.
Deputy James Jenkins of the Comal County Sheriff's Department receives the Medal of Heroism Award from President Stu Hoyt. Standing to the right of Martin is Lou Colantoni, Chairman, Public Safety Awards.
Public Service Awards January 10, 2019
President Steve Polk, Firefighter/Paramedic Jacob Garcia of the Canyon Lake Fire Department, and Lou Colantoni, Chairman of the Public Service Awards Committee. Mr. Garcia received special recognition for his work as an EMS Paramedic while on duty in the Canyon Lake area, performing life saving duties to the victim of a shooting incident.
President Steve Polk, Firefighter/Paramedic Tallen Swanzy of the Canyon Lake Fire Department, and Lou Colantoni, Chairman of the Public Service Awards Committee. Mr. Swanzy received special recognition for his work as an EMS Paramedic while on duty in the Canyon Lake area, performing life saving duties to the victim of a medical emergency. Without Mr. Swanzy's efforts, the patient would not have survived.
Group photo of the service award recipients and some members of Chapter 35. L-R: John Booth, Stan Trull, Tom Jones, Steve Polk, Jacob Garcia, Tallen Swanzy, Stu Hoyt, Michael Pryor, Patrick Hollis, Don Chandler, and Blair Rudy.