AFSCME Council 13 Member Honored

                                                                                                                                                                  (photo credit:  Matt Hankins)

William Delling of DC87, L2370, Wayne County (3rd from left) received a 2009 Governor's Award for Excellence during the recent ceremony at the Governor's Residence.  Governor's Awards for Excellence recognize those state employees who best promote the good of the commonwealth's citizens or advance state government.  Also pictured is Gov. Rendell, George Hunter of Monroe Co., Clark Verchuk of Lackawanna Co., acting Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources, John Quigley and William Friese, who nominated them.

Delling, along with Hunter and Verchuk, were recognized for helping save the life of a lost hunter.  The Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources employees were part of a rescue team that worked for more than 20 hours in difficult weather and terrain searching for a hunter who had been lost for more than 35 hours in sub-freezing temperatures.  They selflessly provided their own outerwear to the hunter who was disoriented, unresponsive, and believed to be close to death.  To warm him, 2 of the rescuers laid on the ground beside him while the others kept him covered.  After 45 minutes, the hunter's core temperature rose and he became more coherent.