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CWA Members Cited as Heroes
Two CWA members — one of them a local president — have emerged as heroes in recent months, and both involved water rescues.
Lee Linford, president of CWA Local 7705, Ogden, Utah, was vacationing with his family in Jackson, Wyo., on May 25, 1997, when his 15-year-old grandson spotted a girl floating in the Jackson Hole Lodge pool.
The grandson, Matt Jarman, saw the little girl roll over, face-down in the water, and remain immobile.
By the time Linford got to her, her face and lips were blue and, while others were summoning 911 assistance, he administered CPR, saving the young girl’s life. According to a letter from Rusty Palmer, the director of the Teton County EMS Council, “Our crew that day had about 30 years collective experience, and we all agree that Mr. Linford’s selfless act saved the life of this child.”
CWA Vice President Sue Pisha of District 7 presented Linford with the union’s Heroic Achievement award and US West Communications has presented him with the company’s bronze version of the Theodore N. Vail award. Both presentations were made at ceremonies on Jan. 9.
In the other heroic action, Willard Bennett, 55, a member of CWA Local 1250 and a comm tech with AT&T, was credited with saving the life of an eight-year-old boy who fell through the ice on a pond near Bennett’s New Britain, Conn., home on Jan. 19. Bennett and another passerby jumped into the freezing 20-foot deep water and pulled the boy, Colin O’Neill, to safety. CWA Local 1250 President Bill Sharkey said he’s been told by management that the company plans to nominate Bennett for a Vail award for his heroic action.
The Vail award was named after the first president of AT&T and was established in 1920 to recognize employees or retirees who perform outstanding acts or services. Although the award originated within the Bell System, it has been adopted by AT&T and the other Bell operating companies since divestiture.
Lee Linford, president of CWA Local 7705, Ogden, Utah, was vacationing with his family in Jackson, Wyo., on May 25, 1997, when his 15-year-old grandson spotted a girl floating in the Jackson Hole Lodge pool.
The grandson, Matt Jarman, saw the little girl roll over, face-down in the water, and remain immobile.
By the time Linford got to her, her face and lips were blue and, while others were summoning 911 assistance, he administered CPR, saving the young girl’s life. According to a letter from Rusty Palmer, the director of the Teton County EMS Council, “Our crew that day had about 30 years collective experience, and we all agree that Mr. Linford’s selfless act saved the life of this child.”
CWA Vice President Sue Pisha of District 7 presented Linford with the union’s Heroic Achievement award and US West Communications has presented him with the company’s bronze version of the Theodore N. Vail award. Both presentations were made at ceremonies on Jan. 9.
In the other heroic action, Willard Bennett, 55, a member of CWA Local 1250 and a comm tech with AT&T, was credited with saving the life of an eight-year-old boy who fell through the ice on a pond near Bennett’s New Britain, Conn., home on Jan. 19. Bennett and another passerby jumped into the freezing 20-foot deep water and pulled the boy, Colin O’Neill, to safety. CWA Local 1250 President Bill Sharkey said he’s been told by management that the company plans to nominate Bennett for a Vail award for his heroic action.
The Vail award was named after the first president of AT&T and was established in 1920 to recognize employees or retirees who perform outstanding acts or services. Although the award originated within the Bell System, it has been adopted by AT&T and the other Bell operating companies since divestiture.