National EMS Memorial Service Honoree

	William Podmayer Jr. TriState CareFlight Durango, Colorado

I think it is as close to losing a family member as it can be. You learn to think as one, you are a team. You depend on each other, the work you do is always moving. But "Pod" always loved it; you could tell he was just born with the right stuff. He could calm a patient with that big bearish grin, and everyone mattered to him, everybody. He took his job very seriously, yet he still made it look effortless.

William Podmayer, Jr., 49, lost his life in an aeromedical accident on June 30, 2005. He was one of three of a medical team flying by helicopter to transport a badly injured logger. They had almost reached the landing zone where the ambulance was to meet them. All three perished in the crash.

Mr. Podmayer was a flight nurse for TriState Careflight. He had been a paid volunteer with the agency for over 14 years. "How do you define an icon?" asked one of Careflight's directors." Podmayer was just that; you could not be in a bad mood or unhappy around him. He brought out the best in everyone," she stated.

"Pod" loved food, he loved softball, a good margarita, and he loved life," stated his wife. "Bill was in the right career; he loved it. It was his dream job," recalled his wife.

Honored 2006