Honors

First I would like to thank two people that have been very instrumental in my participation in Special Olympics Oklahoma as well as the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Torch Run.
First the man that got me here; Oklahoma Highway Patrolman Steve Burrows. Steve got me started in Special Olympics Oklahoma about eight years ago as I helped him with a fishing tournament. At the time I had NO involvement with the athletes whatsoever, and I just helped raise prizes and helped out during the actual fishing tournament.
Steve kept pushing and pushing until one day I gave in and told him that I would help out with the polar plunge and also become a member of the Summer games committee. Now, if you know me and Steve then you know that as long as I am breathing, I WILL be giving him a hard time for one thing or another, and I will continue to do so as long as both of us are still breathing. But to be honest and all kidding aside thanks to Steve, my life has changed to become a somewhat useful member of Special Olympics Oklahoma Summer Games and LETR. It is now in my blood and he has created a monster. Thanks Steve, love ya brother, and I can never repay you. By the way Trooper Burrows received the Tim Stafford Unsung Hero Award this past year for his dedication to the LETR, and Steve was honored by being able to carry the flame of Hope into Gallagher Iba arena and light the Summer Games torch officially opening the Summer Games.
Second is the man that got me thinking about the final leg portion of Special Olympics; Shawn Byrne, Oklahoma City Police Department. I had the pleasure of participating in the International Law Enforcement Torch Run International conference in Connecticut in 2009. At the time I knew Shawn and he knew me, but it was just the normal seeing each other around thing. Shawn ran the final leg in Idaho in 2009, and to hear him tell me stories about the entire trip, not only made his eyes water, but they did mine as well. And from that moment on I knew that someday I wanted to be a part of this great quest to help spread the word about Special Olympics and be a member of the Final Leg.
To the two men above, I love you like the brothers you are, and I thank both of you for throwing some very large shoes out there for me to try and fill. I doubt I am capable of filling them, but as you both know, I will not give up trying.
Last and certainly not least, I have to acknowledge the Payne County Sheriff's Department. The men that I work with on the 11p.m. to 7 a.m. shift (Darren, Dustin, and Joe). Without the help of these three men, and the administration at the Sheriff's Department, I could not do what I do for Special Olympics Oklahoma. Every time an event comes up, I let them know and they tell me to get it done, and unselfishly cover my shift for me and as of yet I have never heard a complaint. You guys are the best regardless of what I tell you on shift. Thank You.