Star of Texas Award Recipients

2004 | 2005 | 2006

2004 Award Recipients

On September 10, 2004, Gov. Rick Perry awarded Star of Texas Awards to three first responders for their bravery, courage, and determination in assisting others. Read Texas First Responders Press Release

Above, Gov. Rick Perry presents a Star of Texas Award to Wichita Falls Police Officer Scott Poole who was shot while executing a search warrant with his narcotics team. Poole is one of three recipients of the first Star of Texas Awards, which honor first responders for their bravery and dedication in helping Texans. The other awards were given posthumously to Odessa flight paramedic Paul Lujan, who died trying to save the life of a sick child, and Lufkin firefighter Charles Krenek, who died in a helicopter crash on a search and recovery mission for the space shuttle Columbia.

Above, Gov. Perry presents the Star of Texas Award to the parents of Odessa flight paramedic Paul Lujan who gave his life trying to save the life of a sick child. On March 21, Paul boarded a Care Star flight to transport 3-month old Pedro Urias Modesto and his mother to Lubbock for emergency medical treatment. Their helicopter crashed in inclement weather, claiming four lives and seriously injuring one.

2005 Award Recipients

The 2005 Star of Texas Awards ceremony was held on October 28, 2005, in the Texas Capitol. Click here to view a press release for the event. On behalf of Governor Perry, Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams presided over the ceremony, which honored the following 44 peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who were killed or seriously injured in the line of duty between September 1, 2003, and June 30, 2005:

Peace Officers Killed in the Line of Duty from September 1, 2003 to June 30, 2005

Officer A. Andrew Barcena, El Paso Police Department
Senior Police Officer Frank Manuel Cantu, Jr., Houston Police Department
Deputy Frank Scott Claborn, Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office
Officer Toby Ray Dirickson, Ranger Police Department
Officer Amy Lynn Donovan, Austin Police Department
Deputy Sheriff Jesus "Jesse" A. Garza, Jr., Bexar County Sheriff's Office
Lieutenant Robert Duane Haley, Comanche Sheriff's Office
Sergeant Gregory Lei Hunter, Grand Prairie Police Department
Trooper Kurt David Knapp, Texas Department of Public Safety
Deputy Dirk Ray Knearem, Chambers County Sheriff's Office
Sergeant James Michael Lane, Beaumont Police Department
Officer Nathan Ray Laurie, River Oaks Police Department
Officer John Edward Logan, Jr., Huntington Police Department
Officer Darren Glen Medlin, Grapevine Police Department
Officer James Granvil O'Brien, Temple Police Department
Officer Lloyd Rogers, Castleberry Independent School District Police Department
Officer Christopher Jerome Sobieski, Prairie View Police Department
Deputy Andrew Harrison Taylor, Llano County Sheriff's Office

Peace Officers Seriously Injured in the Line of Duty from September 1, 2003 to June 30, 2005

Sergeant Alfredo Barrera, Jr., Texas Department of Public Safety
Trooper Jason R. Busby, Texas Department of Public Safety
Officer Steven Claiborne, Austin Police Department
Deputy Sherman Dollison, Smith County Sheriff's Office
Ranger Sergeant Ronald E. Duff, Texas Department of Public Safety
Trooper Darrell C. Matthews, Texas Department of Public Safety
Trooper Robert J. Mendez, Texas Department of Public Safety
Deputy Michael D. Saunier, Bexar County Sheriff's Office
Officer Bruce Seix, Grand Prairie Police Department
Lieutenant Marlin Suell, Smith County Sheriff's Office
Trooper Wilton White, Jr., Texas Department of Public Safety

Firefighters Killed in the Line of Duty from September 1, 2003, to June 30, 2005

Captain Grady Burke, Houston Fire Department
Fire Management Officer Charles Edgar, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
Chief Gary Don Fox, Bluegrove Volunteer Fire Department
Pilot Jose Victor Gonzalez, Brainerd Helicopter Service
District Chief Ricardo Armando Gonzales, Beaumont Fire and Rescue Services
Bald Mountain Helitack Base Manager John McRae Greeno, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
Firefighter/EMT Nito Rene Guajardo, Baytown Fire Department
Firefighter Christopher Brian Hunton, Amarillo Fire Department
Firefighter Kevin Wayne Kulow, Houston Fire Department

Firefighters Seriously Injured in the Line of Duty from September 1, 2003, to June 30, 2005

Assistant Chief Phillip Draper, Southern Oaks Volunteer Fire Department
Firefighter Danny Holman, Hoover Volunteer Fire Department

Emergency Medical First Responders Killed in the Line of Duty from September 1, 2003, to June 30, 2005

Paramedic Christopher Dale Clingan, Pafford Ambulance Service
Pilot Micky Lynn Price, CareStar Air Ambulance Service
Flight Paramedic Marco E. Villalobos, MedFlight Air Ambulance

Emergency Medical First Responders Seriously Injured in the Line of Duty from September 1, 2003 to June 30, 2005

Emergency Care Attendant Lester Ball, Sugar Hill Volunteer Fire Department

2006 Award Recipients

The 2006 Star of Texas Awards ceremony was held on September 11, 2006, in the Texas House of Representatives chamber. Click here to view a press release for the event. Governor Perry presented Star of Texas Awards to 49 peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who were killed or seriously injured in the line of duty between September 1, 2003, and June 30, 2006:

Peace Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

Trooper Trainee Jimmy Ray Carty, Jr., Texas Department of Public Safety
Trooper Eduardo Chavez, Texas Department of Public Safety
Sergeant Denny Floyd Gallaway, Jr., San Jacinto County Precinct 2 Constable's Office
Constable Dale David Geddie, Smith County Precinct 4 Constable's Office
Officer Brian Howard Jackson, Dallas Police Department
Trooper Matthew Dewayne Myrick, Texas Department of Public Safety
Officer Henry "Hank" Nava, Jr., Fort Worth Police Department
Sergeant Michael Scott Neal, Mexia ISD Police Department
Deputy Sheriff Jason Alexander Oliff, Brazoria County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Sergeant Ruben Orozco, Sr., El Paso County Sheriff's Office
Patrolman Gregory Dean Stewart, Beeville Police Department
Lieutenant James Lee Sunderland, Sr., Val Verde County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Sheriff Lester Dewayne Tatum, Trinity County Sheriff's Office
Officer Eric Jay Van Fossan, Eagle Pass Police Department
Patrolman John Randolph Wheeler, San Antonio Police Department
Trooper Billy Jack Zachary, Texas Department of Public Safety

Peace Officers Seriously Injured in the Line of Duty

Deputy Sheriff Michael Ray Beeson, Tarrant County Sheriff's Office
Trooper II George Correa, Jr., Texas Department of Public Safety
Senior Officer Dave Dewain Erskine, Austin Police Department
Patrol Deputy Sheriff Edward Lee Martin, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Trooper Thomas M. McGinnis, Texas Department of Public Safety
Trooper III Steven Randall Oliver, Texas Department of Public Safety
Deputy Sheriff Christopher Lowell Rogers, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
Patrolman Mark Steven Simmons, Jr., Amarillo Police Department
Trooper Steven Michael Stone, Texas Department of Public Safety
Deputy James Lee Sunderland, Jr., Val Verde County Sheriff's Office

Firefighters Killed in the Line of Duty

Engineer James Wilson McMorries, Jr., Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department
Chief Lonnie Wayne Nicklas, Shepherd Volunteer Fire Department
Firefighter Brandon Scott Phillips, Keller Fire Rescue
Firefighter Clinton Dwayne Rice, Carlton Volunteer Fire Department
Captain Chad Ernest Wessels, Briggs Volunteer Fire Department

Firefighters Seriously Injured in the Line of Duty

Reserve Firefighter Janet Lyrissa Bragg, Yancey Volunteer Fire Department
Assistant Fuels Specialist Steven Allan Burns, U.S. Forest Service
Firefighter Vanessa Ann Childress, Junction Volunteer Fire Department
Captain Jeffrey Dean Cook, Howardwick Fire Department
Reserve Firefighter Max De Leon, Yancey Volunteer Fire Department
2nd Assistant Chief Dennis L. Dussetschleger, Lexington Volunteer Fire Department
Captain Daniel Loren Friday, Midland Fire Department
Firefighter Joseph Louis Garcia, Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department
Firefighter Luis Antonio Guerrero, Alton Volunteer Fire Department
Firefighter Kenneth Ray Hancock, New Summerfield Volunteer Fire Department
Firefighter Kris Lombrana, Junction Volunteer Fire Department
Firefighter Lewis D. Millegan, Robert Lee Volunteer Fire Department
Firefighter Wesley David Mosher, Irion County Volunteer Fire Department
Firefighter Dwight E. Murphy, Cameron Gardens Volunteer Fire Department
Training Coordinator/Firefighter Dennis Vern Penney, Boonsville-Balsora Volunteer Fire Department
Driver Stewart Justin Wall, Dallas Fire and Rescue
Captain Gary Lynn Winton, Pampa Fire Department

Emergency Medical First Responder Injured in the Line of Duty

Flight RN Ronald Wesley Stephens, MCH CareStar

Above, Governor Perry delivers the keynote address at the 2006 Star of Texas Awards ceremony, held in the House Chamber.

Governor Perry shakes Patrol Deputy Sheriff Edward Lee Martin's hand
Above, Governor Perry thanks Patrol Deputy Sheriff Edward Lee Martin of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, who was injured in the line of duty when he responded to a domestic disturbance call in June 2006.

Texans attending the 2006 State of Texas Award show their appreciation with applause for first responders who were injured in the line of duty.