Kelleys man receives Kiwanis medal

Port Clinton, Ohio, News Herald
http://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/article/20081118/NEWS01/811180312

PORT CLINTON – In 1966, a man from Illinois, named Robert P. Connelly, gave his life in an attempt to rescue a paraplegic woman at a railroad crossing.

By this unselfish action and dramatic personal involvement, he showed himself to be the epitome of all that Kiwanis strives to be. Therefore, in 1967, the Kiwanis International Foundation established an award bearing his name to acknowledge heroic service beyond the call of duty and honoring Robert P. Connelly as its first recipient.

Since that time, more than 600 people have been recognized at Kiwanis International Conventions, many honored posthumously, honorees from all over the globe – Japan, New Mexico, Thailand, Austria, New Zealand and, of course, the United States. Their stories of heroism speak of saving people from electrocution, icy waters, burning cars and buildings, attackers, avalanches, explosions, on-coming trains, drunk drivers and rapists.

From 1967 to 2008, approximately 30 honorees have come from Ohio.

But, because of the thousands of nominees received by the Kiwanis International Foundation each year, not all can be awarded a Connelly. Some can be considered for the Medal of Valor. Only one Medal of Valor has been awarded by the Foundation in 2008. That honor goes to Chuck Herndon from Kelleys Island.

Herndon's story took place during the night of Sept. 3, 2007 when a plane took off from Kelleys Island Municipal Airport. This plane held a father, Jeff Hutchinson, and his two sons, Jeremy, 9, and Joel, 7. Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed into Lake Erie.

It was reported that the fuselage was located 700 yards off the Island in 18 to 20 feet of water, when two passengers were found dead, the father and the oldest son. Seeing the crash, Chuck Herndon, resident of the Island, got into his small rowboat, and in the darkness heard faint cries for help. It was then that seven-year-old Joel clutched onto the side of the boat allowing Chuck to take him safely to shore.

When asked to explain to the Kiwanis International Foundation Board of Trustees why Chuck Herndon should qualify for recognition, Port Clinton Kiwanis Past-President Kathy Jo Schweitzer wrote, "Chuck Herndon did indeed accept self-imposed personal responsibility in the effort to save the life of another human being when he could as well have passed along that entire responsibility to the rescue teams. But, he didn't do that. Instead, in the dark of the night, Chuck got into a small boat on great Lake Erie, miraculously locating the third passenger from the airplane crash.

“This award's spirit of 'dramatizing the courageous assumption of individual responsibility' could not be more clearly exemplified than by being presented to someone who selflessly saved the life of a seven year old child – and for that, Chuck Herndon is worthy of being honored by the Kiwanis International Foundation Board of Trustees as well as our local Kiwanis Club of Port Clinton, Ohio."