October 2, 2007: 18th Valor Awards

The Greater Richmond Pipes & Drums and a combined Color Guard opened the 18th Valor Awards held Oct. 2 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

Chesterfield Police Officer Rodney Prekto (left) received the only Gold Award and Officer Nathan P. Harder the only Silver Award. Richmond Police and Chesterfield Fire & EMS Officers received Bronze Awards.

Front row, seated, City of Richmond Police Officers Kenneth Greaves, Christina Dalykas, Matthew Laird, Sgt. Erlan Marshall, Officers Carl Murray, Jr., Brian Martin and Chesterfield County Police Officer Nathan P. Harder. Second row, Chesterfield Fire Chief Paul W. Mauger, Firefighters Raymond M. Broughman and Bryce C. Ford, City of Richmond Officer Taylor Sensabaugh, Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe, Robert Taylor, Jr., Mervin Mayo, Gregory Nienow, Chesterfield County Police Officer Rodney Pretko, and Chesterfield Police Chief Thierry G. Dupuis.

Howard Thurston and Samuel Shealy received the Citizens Award. It is only the second to be awarded in 18 years.

Bill Lane, general manager of FOX Richmond, introduced John Walsh, host of American’s Most Wanted, the keynote speaker. FOX Richmond and GRTC were the Speaker Sponsors.

David Fairchild, president of First Market Bank, and Bobby Ukrop, President/CEO of Ukrop’s Super Markets (right) were the Title Sponsors.

John Walsh, host of America’s Most Wanted Fox TV show was the keynote speaker. The show taped material for two segments of the show while in Richmond.

Bill Lane, (left) and John Walsh, during filming in Richmond. The show aired Saturday, Oct. 6th. On Sunday, Oct. 7h, a former Goochland County resident, one of the cases featured on the show, who was accused of beating his neighbor nearly to death, was arrested in Arkansas as a result of tips from the show.