Silver Falcon Award

The Jim Ulrich Silver Falcon Award

Each year, Friends of AirLife hosts an event honoring the everyday heroes in EMS and those who have lost their lives in the line of duty: the AIRLIFE Memorial 5K and 10K race and EMS Celebration. The race was created in memory of Pete Albplanalp, Beth Barber, Leslie Feldmann and Julie Olmstead, who died on Dec. 14, 2007, in an AirLife helicopter crash and related car accident. Since its inception, the race has evolved to include honoring the fallen heroes of air medical, EMS, fire and police.

Jim Ulrich Silver Falcon Award

The award is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to EMS. The award originated in 2000 and was created by the beloved Friends of AirLife co-founder, Jim Ulrich, who lost his battle with leukemia in December 2006.

At the time of Jim's death, hundreds of EMS leaders from across the region petitioned Friends of AirLife to add his name to the award as a lasting tribute to his many positive and diverse contributions to EMS.

In part these friends declared,

"This would offer a tribute of gratitude and respect to someone who has supported the Friends of AirLife and who has had a far-reaching and considerable impact on the world of EMS and PIO events. We are aware that the Silver Falcon award is given annually by the Friends of AirLife committee to an individual that has demonstrated 'commitment and dedication to the profession of EMS.' We think that it would be befitting to have Jim's name on the Silver Falcon Award statue so that future recipients may recognize Jim's impact and importance to many facets of EMS."

Friends of AirLife is currently seeking nominations for this prestigious award.

If you know of someone who has had similar positive impacts on EMS and would like to nominate them to be presented with the award at the 2011 AirLife Memorial 5K/10K and EMS Celebration, please email a letter outlining the individual's contributions and support to Jana Williams at by May 1, 2012.

Former recipients include:

• 2011-Dave Bressler
• 2010-Wayne Zygowicz
• 2009-Dianna Angelo
• 2008-Steve Berry, BA, NREMT-P
• 2007-Eugene "Gene" Eby, MD
• 2006-Jim Ulrich, EMT-P
• 2005-Michael Greene, MHBA, RN, EMT-P
• 2004-Scott Bourne, RN, NREMT-P
• 2003-Baxter Larmon, PhD, MICP
• 2002-Anne Clouatre, EMT-P
• 2001-Jeff Forster, EMT-P
• 2000-Stuart Greisman, DO

Friends of AirLife is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Donations received by Friends of AirLife are used to maintain the AirLife Memorial Park located at the site of the 1997 crash, Colorado EMS education through the Jim Ulrich Scholarship Fund, the Jim Ulrich Silver Falcon Award recognizing local EMS leaders, and charitable assistance to families of EMS professionals who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Contributions can be made by visiting the website at www.airlifedenver.com and clicking on the Memorial link.