Secretary Andrade Honors Texas’ Heroes with 2008 Star of Texas Awards
September 11, 2008
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Secretary Andrade honors Matthew Brice
Bulls with a Star of Texas Award.
AUSTIN – Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade today honored 27 peace officers, firefighters and emergency medical first responders who were killed or seriously injured in the line of duty with the 2008 Star of Texas awards. Secretary Andrade presented the awards at a ceremony at the Texas Capitol attended by honorees, their family members and their colleagues.
“The character and integrity of the individuals we honor here today is something we should all strive towards. They are the men and women our children and our grandchildren look up to and who we hope they grow up to be,” said Secretary Andrade. “We come together to honor the great legacy they have created for generations of Texans to understand what true heroism is and what it looks like.”
In 2003, the 78th legislature created the Star of Texas Awards and designated September 11 as “Texas First Responders Day” to honor the bravery, courage, and determination of Texas men and women who assist others in emergencies. Andrade also highlighted the bravery and courage on display again as Texas braces for Hurricane Ike.
“As the hurricane sets its course towards our coast, peace officers, firefighters and medical first responders are once again showing the nation the true Texas character,” Andrade said. “While our coastal residents prepare to move away to safety, emergency responders like those that we are honoring are moving towards the danger to assist others and secure their safety.”
2008 Star of Texas Award Recipients included:
Peace Officers Killed in the Line of Duty:
Detective Mario Moreno, San Antonio Police DepartmentOfficer Andrew Esparza, Irving Police Department
Game Warden Wesley Wagstaff, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Trooper James Scott Burns, Texas Department of Public Safety
Investigator Dale Sherrill, Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Senior Corporal Victor Antonio Lozada, Sr., Dallas Police Department
Game Warden Justin Hunt, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Officer Gary Allen Gryder, Houston Police Department
Corporal John Scott Gardner, Odessa Police Department
Corporal Arlie Miller Jones, Odessa Police Department
Corporal Abel Renteria Marquez, Odessa Police Department
Deputy Sheriff Michael Page, Bowie County Sheriff’s Office
Peace Officers Seriously Injured in the Line of Duty:
Senior Corporal Jerry L. Poston, Dallas Police Department
Deputy Sheriff Javier Ureña, Harris County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Sheriff Ronald Kevin Harris, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office
Lieutenant Carlton Marshall, Dallas Police Department
Officer Matthew Bulls, Port Arthur Police Department
Trooper Larry Buxton, Texas Department of Public Safety
Deputy Sheriff Pete Cupial, Harris County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Sheriff Gerald Barnes, Harris County Sheriff’s Office
Firefighter’s Killed in the Line of Duty:
Chief Robert Knight, Teague Volunteer Fire Department
Captain Kevin Williams, Noonday Volunteer Fire Department
Firefighter Austin Cheek, Noonday Volunteer Fire Department
Firefighters Seriously Injured in the Line of Duty:
Firefighter Drew Franklin, Lakeside City Volunteer Fire Department
Emergency Medical First Responders Killed in the Line of Duty:
Flight Nurse Jana Eileen Bishop, PHI Air Medical
Pilot, Captain Charles Wayne Kirby, PHI Air Medical
Flight Paramedic, Stephanie Waters, PHI Air Medical