The Hill Country 100 Club paid honors to area Law Enforcement, Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Personnel of Blanco, Burnet and Llano Counties at their annual membership and awards banquet Thursday, January 21, at the Lakeside Pavilion in Marble Falls, Texas. Just under 400 members, honorees, colleagues, family, and friends were present to recognize 36 area Emergency First Responders for their service and contributions to their respective agencies and communities.

The event was dedicated to Fallen Hero, Burnet County Deputy Sheriff David Blake, who lost his life in the line of duty this past October. Burnet County Sheriff W. T. Smith presented the Hill Country 100 Club’s Rookie of the Year award posthumously to Deputy Blake’s widow, Tanya.

Blanco County Emergency First Responder honors went to: Victoria Gable, Volunteer of the Year, Blanco Emergency Medical Services; Corporal Bob Morgan, Officer of the Year, Blanco County Sheriff’s Office; David Treibs, Johnson City Police Department, Officer of the Year; Ross Allen, Johnson City Police Department, Rookie of the Year; and Sergeant Jimmy Schoeder, Officer of the Year, Texas Ranger/Blanco County.

Hill Country 100 Club 2009 Chairman, Dewey Hollingsworth, says “The primary purpose of Hill Country 100 Club is to provide financial aid to spouses and dependents of fallen law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical service personnel who are killed in the line of duty.

We also provide financial aid to those Emergency First Responders who may be seriously injured on the job. Additionally, on a case by case basis we will consider providing specialized equipment to those agencies that have unique needs.” Mr. Hollingsworth concluded by saying the “Hill Country 100 Club provides scholarships to graduating seniors who are pursuing careers in law enforcement, firefighting or emergency medical services.”

The Hill Country 100 Club began in 2002 when a few citizens got together and decided to organize and provide financial support to the dependents of Burnet County Emergency First Responders killed in the line of duty. Today the Hill Country 100 Club has several hundred members and supports law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical service personal in Burnet, Llano and Blanco Counties.

The Hill Country 100 Club invites the community to participate by donating or joining by contacting one of their current Directors or by going to www.hillcountry 100club.org. Contributions can be sent to: Hill Country 100 Club, P. O. Box 381, Burnet, Texas 78611. Blanco County Board members are Judy Yentzen, Lynn Boyd, and David O’Bannon.