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LEWISBURG, W.Va. -- Verizon today recognized Carl D. Hefner, one of its White Sulphur Springs employees, with the company's prestigious Verizon Heroes Award. Hefner, a cable-splicing technician, received the silver medal for helping to rescue a motorist and his passenger from their overturned vehicle, moments before it burst into flames.
"Employees like Carl make us all proud," said Amy McDevitt, Verizon's president for Mid-Atlantic operations, who presented the medal and a check for $3,000 to Hefner. "His heroic efforts are exemplary of Carl's commitment to his community, as well as to his company. He is very deserving of this great honor."
On April 16, Hefner was traveling in a Verizon vehicle on Route 92, a two-lane highway, near White Sulphur Springs. A Jeep in front of him swerved out of control and flipped several times before coming to rest on its roof on the edge of the highway. Smoke billowed from beneath the hood.
Hefner immediately called for help on his Verizon radio, reaching a fellow employee who contacted emergency personnel. Despite the risk of an explosion, he then rushed to the aid of the victims trapped inside. He crawled through a broken rear window of the Jeep to drag a female passenger to safety. Another passerby rescued the unconscious male driver. Moments later, an explosion engulfed the Jeep in flames.
The silver Verizon Heroes Award, the second-highest award for heroism granted by Verizon, is awarded to a Verizon employee who risks his or her own safety in saving the life of another person. The other Verizon Heroes Awards include the gold and bronze medals, the citation of meritorious service and a certificate of recognition.
The awards replace the Theodore N. Vail Medal program, created in 1920 in memory of an early president of the former Bell System.
Verizon Communications
A Fortune 10 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $67 billion in revenues and 221,000 employees. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with more than 139 million access line equivalents and 36 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is the third largest long-distance carrier for U.S. consumers, with nearly 16 million long-distance lines. The company is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
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