Lt. Harris Housley of the Calhoun Police Department became the third recipient of the Kathy Cox Guardian Angel Award recently during a special celebration hosted by Gordon EMS.

According to Courtney Taylor, director of Gordon EMS, the award was presented at the annual EMS Week cookout held at Gordon Hospital.

“The judging of this award was once again very difficult because each of the nominees from every represented department is exemplary,” Taylor explained. “Each of them is deserving of recognition for their dedication to work and community and that made the choice of a final, single winner very challenging.”

Nominations for the award were made by public safety department heads of all disciplines in Calhoun and Gordon County, he added. The nominations were then sent to panel of unbiased judges.

“We were very pleased to present this year’s Kathy Cox Guardian Angel Award to Lt. Housley,” Taylor said. “This award was created to not only honor the memory and service of Gordon County Ordinance Officer Cox, who died in an automobile accident on Aug. 21, 2008 while on duty, but to also recognize other public safety officials who share many of Kathy’s extraordinary values.”

In addition to award recipient Lt. Housley, nominees for the award included Telecommunicator Andrew York of Gordon County E-911, Trooper Ted Kimbrell of the Georgia State Patrol, Firefighter Robert Oglesby of the Calhoun Fire Department, Lt. Heath Derryberry of the Gordon County Fire Department, and Sgt. John Vick of the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office.

Cox’s husband, Retired Lt. Kenny Cox, assisted Taylor in presenting the award to Lt. Housley.

“I am so honored to be apart in my little way with EMS week,” Cox says. “Kathy would be proud of each and every person.”

Earlier in the celebration, Taylor presented the Gordon EMS Above and Beyond Award to Jim Banks with the Calhoun Police Department. Nominees for the award included Bill Kuhlman of the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office; Billy Green, Brandon Goss, Clay Brown, and Robert Oglesby, all of the Calhoun Fire Department; Heath Derryberry and Bo Nicholson, both of the Gordon County Coroner’s Office; Jason Davis of the Georgia State Patrol; Rick O’Mahony, Sandy Townsend, Jennifer Derryberry and Missy Bingiel, all of Gordon County E-911; Hoyt Bates of the Calhoun Police Department; Ellis Payne, Alex Greeson, Josh Robinson, Scott Brooks, Dustin Silvers, and Eddie Fair, all of the Gordon County Fire Department.

In addition, the Gordon EMS Distinguished Service Award, a new award created this year for distinguished service above and beyond the call of duty that directly resulted in the saving of a life, was presented to four Gordon County Sheriff’s Office deputies. According to Taylor, three deputies – Chad Phillips, Jeremy Battle and Josh Cochran – saved the life of a Cartersville man by pulling him from his burning car on I-75.

“The actions of these three clearly saved a life that night,” Taylor said. “It is for that reason that we honor them and their heroic actions tonight.”

Deputy Scott Shaw was also presented a Gordon EMS Distinguished Service Award for saving the life of a local woman.

“Gordon EMS was dispatched to a call for a female that was bleeding profusely and unresponsive and although he was not dispatched to the call, Deputy Shaw took it upon himself to respond knowing he was the closest public safety person to assist this citizen in need,” Taylor said. “There is no doubt in my mind that the deputy’s quick reactions to this situation saved this life. This was reaffirmed by the doctor on duty that evening.”

Taylor concluded the celebration by thanking all public servants for their service to Calhoun and Gordon County