Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Safety Award
The National Association of Railroad Passengers is seeking nominations for the Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Safety Award, an annual honor awarded to the railroad worker who has done the most to improve the safety of railroad passengers. The award is bestowed in memory of Dr. Burch, one of eight passengers who died in 1991 when Amtrak's Silver Star derailed.
CONDITIONS OF AWARD
(Presented by the Burch Family)
PURPOSE To recognize the individual railroad employee judged to have done the most to improve the safety of railroad passengers in 2016. The recipient of the Burch Safety Award will be honored at NARP’s annual Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C., and a $1,000 award from the Burch Family.
ELIGIBILITY All employees of railroads and agencies which operate or contract for the operation of intercity passenger or commuter trains (as distinct from local mass transit) or whose tracks are used by such trains.
NOMINATION CRITERIA The choice of selection criteria shall be the prerogative of each nominating railroad, authority or union, but consideration should be given to the employee who: A. Identifies and reports or corrects a passenger-threatening hazard and thereby prevents a possible accident or serious injury. B. Initiates and fosters (by ideas, programs or other means) an atmosphere that promotes superior safety performance and awareness with respect to railroad passengers
NOTES Organizations are encouraged to submit more than one nomination. This year, as was the case last year, nominations also will be accepted from individuals. Personal acts of heroism shall not be a consideration for this award. The committee is particularly interested in front-line workers whose job description duties are not specifically related to safety (e.g. “Safety Coordinator”), including track inspectors and track workers, and in work "beyond the job description" by all nominees. Please also note that the employee need not be directly involved in the operation of trains—the 2012 award winners were a trio of Amtrak engineers. A nominating carrier need not run passenger trains for its own account; it is enough to simply host passenger trains operated by others. Operation Lifesaver activities should not be the only activity to recommend a candidate.
NOMINATING PROCEDURE Nominations shall be submitted in the form of a typewritten letter not to exceed two pages in length. Nominations recognizing accomplishments in 2016 must be received by Friday, March 3, 2017. They must be sent to:
The National Association of Railroad Passengers
Attn: Burch Award
505 Capitol Court, NE, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20002-7706
Fax: (202) 408-8287 (Voice: 408-8362)
E-mail: sjeansgail[at]narprail.org
Such nominations will be forwarded to the Burch Award Advisory Committee.
Recipients of the Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Safety Award
2016 - Shamonda Jones
Metra (Chicago) Commuter Rail Senior Manager
2012 - Michael Trosino, Steven Chrismer, and Marty Perkins, Sr.
Amtrak Industrial Design Managers
2011 - Blair Slaughter
Amtrak Industrial Design Manager
2010 - John Bernal
Amtrak Mechanical Foreman
2009 - Dwayne Meadows
Norfolk Southern Bridge Supervisor
2008 - John "Jake" Mumford
Amtrak Police Department Detective
2007 - J. Wes Wilkins
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) Safety Liaison
2006 - Lanny Wilson, M.D.
Chairman, DuPage Railroad Safety Council
2004 - Steven Tomlinson
Amtrak safety liaison
2003 - Gordon Bowe
Union Pacific conductor
2002 - Henry Marcell
Amtrak engineering safety director
2001 - Damian Garden
Amtrak maintenance-of-way supervisor
2000 - Allan Thomas
Amtrak chef
1999 - J. F. Garrard
Amtrak conductor
1998 - Patrick Corcoran
Union Pacific engineer
1997 - Jolene Molitoris
Federal Railroad Administrator Position N/A
1996 - Lenore Slimbock
Amtrak assistant general manager
1995 - Billy Parker
Amtrak engineer
1994 - Wayne Solomon
Chicago and North Western engineer