Three receive Connelly Medals for heroism

12-30-05

Three young men from Clearwater County were recognized for their heroism and portraying the "Ideal of Individual Responsibility" during Robert P. Connelly Medal Award ceremonies Thursday evening in Orofino.

The three, Jeremy Engle, Kyle Kingen and Seth DeBusk, risked injury and possible death to save others. The Connelly Medal is awarded by Kiwanis International and these young men were nominated by Kiwanis Club of Orofino.

During a track meet at Kamiah High School on the evening of March 22, 2005, Engle pulled a fellow athlete, Mickey Jackson, free from a guy wire that had accidentally become "hot" due to a short circuit in the system. When he realized the seriousness of the situation, he grabbed Jackson's legs and pulled. Engle said he was getting shocked so badly that all he could do was lean back as hard as he could until Jackson's hands pulled free. They were later told that had they remained in contact with the wire 40-50 seconds longer, it would have meant permanent physical injury or death.

At approximately 12:30 p.m. on April 25, 2005, DeBusk and Kingen were visiting each other at the DeBusk home when they heard an explosion from the home of Frank and Eunice Stone, DeBusk's 84-year-old neighbors. When they went to investigate, they heard Eunice cries coming from the burning structure. After asking other neighbors to get more help, they went into the burning building and helped the Stones out. Both Frank and Eunice required hospital treatment for the burns they received, but were in attendance for the award ceremonies.

Kiwanis Pacific Northwest District Governor Steve Emhoff presented plaques with the imbedded medals to the young men along with $500 savings bonds.

Former District Governor Louise Regelin pointed out that these young men were the fourth, fifth and sixth from Clearwater County to receive the medals. The first was Tim Norton who received the award in 1997 for his attempt to assist a man whose boat had hit a rock and he had been thrown into the icy Clearwater River on Dec. 13, 1997. Norton was suffering with hypothermia by the time he pulled the man from the river. Unfortunately, the man did not survive, but that did not lessen the courage or service given by Norton. In 2000, Matthew Jones and Justin Hollibaugh received Connelly Medals for their rescue of Phyllis Bovey from her car which had gone into a pond between U.S. Highway 12 and Hidden Village Mobile Home Court and was sinking. They had been working outdoors at a home nearby and heard the car go through the guardrail and into the pond and responded immediately to her aid.

Kiwanis International Foundation established the Connelly Medal in 1967 after one of their members, Robert P. Connelly, showed exceptional courage in attempting to rescue a handicapped young woman from the path of a train. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful and both Connelly and the young woman died. His widow was presented the award posthumously.

Photos: Top--Mickey Jackson (left) was rescued from electrocution by Jeremy Engle (right). Engle is hold the Robert P. Connelly Medal plaque that he received Thursday evening. Second--Kiwanis Pacific Northwest District Governor Steve Emhoff (left) presents plaques and $500 savings bonds to Kyle Kingen (center) and Seth DeBusk.

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