MILITARY HERO
Presented by: AMI Communications, Inc.
Presented to: Ssgt. Jacob Frazier and his Parents, Jim & Joyce Frazier

Joyce and Jim Frazier

The following excerpt from a letter written by Lt. Governor Pat Quinn provides a most eloquent introduction of SSgt. Jacob Frazier:

"Jacob 'Jake' Frazier grew up in St. Charles and was a 1997 graduate of Burlington Central High School, where he was an All-Conference defensive back on the football team and a varsity wrestler, as well as being active in the theater program.

"He joined the Illinois National Guard in 1998 and was soon trained for special forces work. Deployed to Afghanistan in January, 2003, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, Sgt. Frazier earned the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Illinois Medal of Valor for his missions against suspected Taliban and Al Qaida terrorist cells.

"On March 29, 2003, his unit was ambushed and he was killed in a firefight, becoming the first Illinois National Guardsman killed in action. His spirit lives on, of course, in the hearts of all who knew him and the unselfish way his parents Jim and Joyce Frazier have dedicated his memory."

Because of Jake's love of children, the Fraziers established the Ssgt. Jacob L. Frazier Memorial Fund to benefit students at Glenwood School. Additionally, Jim organized a golf fundraiser to honor his son which earned $1,500 to benefit the Military Family Relief Fund, a model program designed to lend a hand to families of Illinois National Guard members and reservists called to active duty who experience financial hardship.

It is for the Fraziers' many and profound sacrifices for our country and community that they are being honored as co-recipients of this year's Military Hero Award.

LAW ENFORCEMENT HERO
Presented by: SBC
Presented to: Sgt. Pat Perez

Pat Perez

A member of one of Kane County's most respected law enforcement families, Pat Perez has distinguished himself in many ways, both personally and professionally, since first joining the Kane County Sheriff 's Office in 1992. His special expertise lies in the areas of drug enforcement and gang crimes.

In those capacities, Pat has participated in multiple high-profile cases. From September, 1997 to November, 2000 he headed up a Special Operations Unit responsible for recovering more than $250,000 in drug asset forfeitures. In February, 2001, he worked with the FBI on a joint investigation which resulted in the seizure of 1,250 pounds of marijuana. That same month, he also obtained information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect in a 1997 Aurora homicide. He later received a Meritorious Service Award from the Fraternal Order of Police for his work on that homicide as well as a federal drug trafficking case.

The recipient of numerous commendations, Pat has received special recognition from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Collins, Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan, and Louis J. Freeh, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, among others.

As is the Perez family tradition, Pat has also made numerous contributions to the community at-large. His impressive record of service includes founding/coaching the Aurora Superstars Football League, coaching football at Kaneland High School, recruiting fellow officers for a Red Cross blood drive, and sitting as a citizen representative on the Sugar Grove Park District Board.

More than a consummate law enforcement professional and community volunteer, Pat is an honorable family man who makes a point of mentoring youth - the very definition of a Hometown Hero!

FIRE FIGHTER HERO
Presented by: FlagSource
Presented to: Tim Schmitz

Tim Schmitz

When you need something done, the old adage suggests you ask the busiest person you know - someone like Tim Schmitz of Batavia.

A part-time firefighter and EMT for the City of Batavia of 1984, Tim not only has one of the highest attendance rates for call backs of all paid-on-call personnel, he was appointed Training Officer for the department in 2002. In that capacity, he's responsible for all officer training - a demanding position under any circumstance.

Yet Tim somehow manages those responsibilities in addition to serving as an Illinois State Representative for the 49th District. As such, he sponsored and passed numerous bills this past year including an amendment to the Child Passenger Protection Act requiring children ages 4 to 11 to be secured by a seat safety belt or in a federally approved lap-and-shoulder belt system and a booster seat.

Tim also sponsored and passed legislation to increase the penalty for fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer as well as helped create the new Fireworks Displayer Licensing Act. All three bills are now state law.

An Assistant Republican Leader in the House of Representatives, Tim also owns and operates ARS Land Group, a local land development company, and yet still finds time to be a devoted husband and father to two young sons, the "jobs" he values most.

Because of his personal accomplishments as a firefighter and his legislative efforts to improve safety for his fellow firefighters, Tim has been named this year's Firefighter Hero.

MEDICAL HERO WINNER
Presented by: Delnor-Community Hospital
Presented to: Wayne Stevens

Wayne Stevens

If saving a life is the highest form of heroism, Wayne R. Stevens of Batavia is the highest form of hero.

A "great guy" by all accounts, Wayne has been providing emergency medical care to area citizens for more than three decades. During that time, he has saved countless lives both directly and indirectly through the emergency service personnel he has trained. His EMS students are widely recognized as the best there are. Among his biggest fans is Nancy Faber, the current Director of Paramedic Education for Delnor Hospital who considers him "my mentor and a driving force as to why I am in EMS."

Wayne currently serves as deputy chief of the Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District. He has been with the district for 26 years, serving in a variety of capacities including Director of the Ambulance Division Early in his career.

Wayne has since achieved numerous "first" and professional milestones including being the first Medic 251 employee. Medic 251 was the first ambulance to operate out of the old Geneva Community Hospital back in the days when ambulance service was hospital based. Wayne was also the first recipient of the Southern Fox Valley Emergency Medical System 30-yearaward.

It is for all the lives Wayne Stevens has saved through his work, all the lives he has touched through his teaching that he is being celebrated as the Medical Hometown Hero for 2004.

ANIMAL RESCUE HERO
Presented by: Charlestowne Mall
Presented to: Phil Zavitz

Phil Zavitz

For the past 27 years, Phil Zavitz has been living on his own little Animal Planet right here in Kane County.

It all started in his hometown of St. Charles where he worked for the street department. As part of his duties, he helped the person in charge of the city's small animal pound. Based on his subsequent experience, he was later asked to head up a combined Geneva- St. Charles animal control department. That gig, in turn, led to his latest job as animal control officer for Kane County, a position he held for 13 years prior to his recent retirement in January.

Given his Kane County territory, it would be easy to assume Mr. Zavitz' main "clientele" would be of the fox, pheasant, rabbit or deer variety. While true, those animals represent but a small fraction of the full story.

The complete version would also include chapters on baby squirrels, lynx, pythons, alligators, lizards, donkeys, chickens, iguanas and elephants not to mention more than a few cats and dogs. With the exception of the elephant (which he encountered while under house arrest in India because of his work as a Christian missionary) all the rest he met up with locally.

To be sure, he had his share of close calls along the way. But mostly, he helped write hundreds if not thousands of happy endings for animals and their owners. One of the more remarkable tales involves a Pomeranian run over by a train. Thanks in no small part to the efforts of Mr. Zavitz, the dog survived!

For his lifelong dedication to animals in need of rescuing, Mr. Zavitz is being honored as the Animal Rescue Hero for 2004!

YOUTH GOOD SAMARITAN HERO
Presented by: Gordon Flesch Co.
Presented to: Katie Sunleaf

Katie Sunleaf

Adults could take a life lesson or two from this year's Youth Good Samaritan nominees - Katie Sunleaf in particular.

A junior at St. Charles East High School, Katie's impressive story dates back to her 10th birthday. That's when she decided she had everything she really needed and opted instead to help others.

In response to a newspaper story about a proposed homeless shelter, Katie asked her family and friends for monetary donations instead of birthday presents. She ultimately collected $100 which her parents promptly doubled. Katie then gave the entire amount to Darlene Marcusson who used the money to help open Lazarus House, a homeless shelter in St. Charles.

Six years later, Katie is still serving Lazarus House, most recently as a student rep on the board of directors. In her "spare" time, she also serves as a Student Ministry Leader at Christ Community Church, a Peer Leadership mentor at school, and a tutor for grade school students. Equally accomplished in the classroom, Katie was recently inducted into the National Honor Society.

Perhaps best of all, word of Katie's birthday "gift" of help for others has since inspired other children to do the same, thus spreading her good deed even further.

It is for leading a life of great example for all of us that Katie Sunleaf has been selected Youth Good Samaritan of the Year.

ADULT GOOD SAMARITAN HERO
Presented by Zimmerman Ford
Presented to: Ann Fink

Ann Fink

When Reverend Tim Silber first came to St. Mark's Lutheran Church in St. Charles seven years ago, parishioner Ann Fink presented him with a list of 20 to 30 people in the congregation who had special needs.

"It was her way of making sure those needs were known and ministered to right from the start," Reverend Silber said.

Talk to anyone who knows Ann and you'll hear a similar story - about acts of kindness, visits to hospitals, trips to the Illinois Youth Center, etc. always in service to others.

A Good Samaritan in every sense of the word, Ann takes it upon herself to befriend people, especially people in need. Once recent example involved taking a student intern from Denmark who had no friends or family stateside under her protective wing and hosting him for home cooked meals and holiday observances.

Ann also serves her church as the coordinator of volunteers and food for Lazarus House. According to her friend of 30 years, Darlene Marcusson, executive director of Lazarus House, Ann's even been known to show up with some of her own homemade soup to nourish guests staying at the St. Charles shelter.

A quiet, unassuming woman, Ann Fink's first response to someone in need is to ask, "What can I do to help?" And then she does it - earning her the honor of being saluted as the Adult Good Samaritan of the Year.

COMMUNITY IMPACT HERO
Presented by: Colonial Cafe
Presented to: Hal Honeyman

Hal Honeyman

For nearly 30 years, Hal Honeyman has been involved with bicycles as a sport, business and recreation. His interest in "adaptive cycling" - bicycles for people with disabilities - began when his own son Jacob was born with Cerebral Palsy.

Wanting to find a way for Jacob to join the family's bike rides, Hal "adapted" a bicycle for his son's use. After Jacob's needs were met, Hal started finding specialized bikes for other disabled children. When specialized bikes weren't available or didn't exist for a particular disability, he created bikes which could accommodate the individual. Thus was born Creative Mobility.

For those with disabilities, specialized bikes mean more than transportation or an opportunity for recreation. They help create a sense of freedom and restore a sense of ability and possibility to those too often bombarded with daily messages about limitations and disabilities.

Project Mobility, another not-for-profit organization founded by Hal, expands his work even further by transporting specialized bikes to places where people can see and try them - at various locations throughout the Fox River Valley and Chicago Metropolitan area including Fox Valley Special Recreation, Hope-Wall School, Easter Seals, Aurora University, Shriner's Hospital, and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago to name but a few. Project Mobility also sponsors individual cycling clinics, adaptive cycling day camps, and overnight camping trips as well as numerous educational and training programs.

Through Creative Mobility and Project Mobility: Cycles for Life, Hal Honeyman provides freedom and independence for a moment in time to those who might not otherwise enjoy the simple thrill of a bike ride. The impact of his work on the disabled community - not to mention the larger community of man - is both immeasurable and deserving of Hometown Hero recognition.