Community heroes are citizens and servants that are making a difference in our community. We believe that many “heroes” are regular people, living normal lives — when suddenly they find themselves in circumstances that needed them to take action. Other heroes are people who were willing to step up and commit to something, not for personal gain, but to make a difference in peoples’ lives, usually people less fortunate than themselves, or to help make their community a better place to live.
These Community Heroes are sponsored by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Matthew Meyers
Many individuals will face a situation in which they are called upon to act, but not all will rise to the task. What sets heroes apart is their ability and willingness to take life-saving action in the face of fear and uncertainty. Matthew Meyers showed his ability to rise to the task when he stepped forward, along with a group of a few others, to save the life of a 77-year-old hiker who had fallen and sustained serious injuries on a hike in Pike National Forest south of Georgetown. Meyers was out leaf peeping with his wife and children when as they stopped to take a picture, a panicked man approached the family.
The man reported that an elderly man was bleeding out on the trail and asked if any of them had cell reception.
Upon hearing this, Meyers realized the severity of the situation and recognized time was of the essence. He quickly tried to call emergency services but lacked the reception. Taking charge of the situation, Meyers instructed the other man to find help and ran onto the trail toward the elderly man in need. By the time Meyers arrived at the scene, a few others had found the injured man who had injured his left arm, was bleeding significantly, and was very hypothermic. Upon seeing this, Meyers knew they would need to transport the man down the mountain in order to save his life. The group fashioned a makeshift stretcher and began carrying the man down the mountain towards help. Luckily, after half a mile of trekking, the group was met by paramedics who were alerted to the situation by the man who Meyers had instructed to find help. The Platte Canyon Fire Protection District recognized Meyers and others in the group as instrumental in saving this man’s life.
In a terrifying and stressful situation, Meyers’ smart thinking and leadership enabled this group to save the life of a person in need. “I knew we had to get him down, and I had a few ideas of what that would look like, but like I said, time was of the essence and he was bleeding so much. I thought he was going to die,” Meyers said. Meyers did not panic or balk at the demands of the crisis. Instead, he directed others and himself toward the appropriate avenues of action, making an unparalleled difference in a person’s life. His response in the face of such a challenge shows that Matthew Meyers is a true and good leader, a hero.
Jess Nagelhout - Southeastern Colorado
Taking the time to go above and beyond can make all the difference in the world; it can even save a life. Jess Nagelhout attended to this exact principle when he took action when he noticed a residential building was on fire on his way to work. Though not his responsibility nor a personal danger to his own person, Nagelhout went out of his own way out of concern for others.
During his drive to work at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Nagelhout saw smoke coming from an apartment building. After checking that the apartment itself was unoccupied, he went next door to alert the neighbor who was at the time sleeping. Upon rousing the neighbor, Nagelhout helped bring both her and her assistance dog to safety. Not only did Nagelhout stop to check on this potentially dangerous scene, he went further to ensure that all people who were potentially in danger were secure. Thanks to his kind and selfless action, lives were saved, and a much larger disaster was averted.
Though Nagelhout’s service and training in the Air Force are impressive on their own, there is now one more reason to admire this brave and diligent hero. His willingness to help others and exceed expectations and the call of duty in his own personal time set Nagelhout apart as an admirable man and a hero. His example shows the importance of being willing to stop and to help as one never knows when one selfless action will save a life.
Dusty Gray - Western Colorado
It was an ordinary day for Dusty Gray when he found himself in the position to save a life.
On June 3, Western Colorado University student Dusty Gray and his two long-time friends had chased a call to adventure to Paradise Cove, a beautiful location offering cliff diving west of Colorado Springs. That same day, University of Northern Colorado student Kian “Alex” Malone had arrived at the same spot to enjoy the day with a few friends and his mother, Tammy Perry. In the state of Colorado, Covid-19 travel restrictions had just expired- and both strangers had looked forward to the warm, sunny day and a much-needed sense of normality.
Both parties were already out making splashes from rocky cliffs when Malone had decided to conquer a particularly dangerous ledge, estimated between 86 and 90 feet above the water. Much against his mother’s protests, Malone took the staggering leap. His knees hit the water first, followed by his head. When a few seconds passed and he failed to resurface, Gray and his friends immediately dove into action. His entire party had lifeguarding experience from high school which proved valuable as the crew successfully located Malone and brought him safely to shore. Accounting for a neck injury Malone had incurred, the three decided against utilizing CPR and instead laid the man on his side while they awaited emergency responders. The sound of coughing brought a wave of relief as the diver had finally regained consciousness.
Malone was transported by helicopter to UCHealth Memorial Hospital Trauma Center in Colorado Springs, where the medical staff was amazed to see him alive. “He had contusions to his lungs consistent with near-drowning, so had the boys not acted as fast as they did, he would have probably drowned,”, Perry explained.
That day, Gray truly did save a life- although his heroism does not seem to surprise anyone, particularly his rugby coach. Western Colorado University head coach Austin Smith-Sanchez said, “My old coach once told me that ‘bravery is not the lack of fear, but the ability to move forward in spite of fear,’ and I can think of no one more deserving of the term than Dusty,”.
Officer Gary Johnson - Southeastern Colorado
Officer Gary Johnson ensures his community stays safe, regardless of jurisdiction boundaries.
On Sept. 9 of last year, Manitou Springs Police Officer Gary Johnson approached the scene of a single-vehicle rollover crash on Highway 24 between Manitou Springs and Cascade, located outside of his jurisdiction. Leaving no time for hesitation, he investigated the scene and found that a person had been trapped inside the wreckage and was bleeding profusely. The Manitou Springs police officer knelt in shattered glass to place a tourniquet on the injured passenger- his actions later turned out to be life-saving.
Officer Johnson’s quick-thinking and heroic act was later recognized when he received a Life Saving medal from the interim chief. In response to this honorable award, the humble officer responded, “I am just doing my job.”.
Manitou Springs Police Interim Chief Bill Otto voiced, “Officer Johnson is an example that every police officer at our department, this region, and the nation should strive to be.”. He then added, “We are extremely proud of the quick-thinking actions he took that resulted in a life being saved.”.
These are great stories and a reminder that a hero can be an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.