Greg Bugher receives Governor’s Heroism Award

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July 9, 2008

By JOHN DEMPSEY The Kokomo Tribune Wed Jul 09, 2008, 11:27 PM EDT

Tribune staff writer

Greg Bugher will never forget what happened on April 8, 2007.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels doesn’t want others to forget what the Russiaville man did that morning either.

After his family narrowly avoided a car going the wrong way around Indianapolis on Interstate 465, Bugher was the first to arrive on the scene that Easter morning after the car collided head-on with the minivan Kokomo’s Joy Edwards was driving. He saved five people — Edwards’ three children and two of their friends — from the minivan as it burned in the median.

Bugher became the third recipient of the Governor’s Heroism Award Wednesday afternoon.

“Everyone here knows what Greg did and that he’s deserving of this recognition,” the governor said to the crowd of Bugher’s fellow Delphi Electronics & Safety employees gathered in the Corporate Technology Center. “What he did deserved to be recognized immediately, and I apologize, Greg, that it’s taken this long.”

In presenting the award, Daniels told the facilities maintenance supervisor, “I don’t think this state can have enough people like you.”

Daniels wanted to present the Governor’s Heroism Award to Bugher in person, but making it to Kokomo with extra time in his schedule before this had been difficult.

“This award recognizes heroism and there is a high threshold for those who we award it,” Daniels said after the presentation. “We reserve it for unique and special people, who give selflessly and at genuine risk to themselves.”

Bugher obviously qualified, Daniels said.

“I’ve read that story many times and twice in the last 24 hours. I’ve given copies of it to numerous people. What he did was extraordinary,” the governor said.

“The greatness of the state of Indiana isn’t in its government ... the greatness of the state is in its people. We saw that numerous times recently with the flooding in the southern part of Indiana.”

Bugher didn’t find out until late Tuesday afternoon the governor would be presenting the award.

“I did a lot of thinking about what I would say and decided to do what I normally do,” he said, “and that’s speak from my heart. My boys are here today. I think about what they had to go through. I think back at what they experienced and I’m proud of the courage they had and I thank God for bringing me back home to those boys.

“I think of the two individuals who lost their lives and their families. And, I think of the five individuals whose lives were saved. I recall their screams, their calls for help, the pain and agony and the look in their eyes of not knowing if they were going to make it out or not,” he continued.

“Two days later, we went to the hospital and spent time with the two girls before they went into surgery. They didn’t know what the outcome would be, whether they would be able to walk or not, but they had the whereabouts to thank me.”

Bugher said seeing Branden, Courtney and Kristin Wade today is remarkable.

“It’s amazing today to see them happy, living life to its fulfillment, breathing in life,” he said.

“Someone asked how I feel when I get recognized for this,” Bugher added. “It gives me the opportunity to be a conduit for God, speaking back and giving thanks for what he gave us that night.”

John Dempsey may be contacted at (765) 854-6739 or by e-mail at john.dempsey@kokomotribune.com

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