"No greater sacrifice"
COLUMBIA, Mo 03/30/15 (Beat Byte) -- Columbia firefighter Bruce Britt has received the 2015 Edward H. Robb Public Servant of the Year Award.
The nod to Lt. Britt marks the first time in the honor's 4-year history it has been awarded posthumously.
Britt was killed after a walkway at University Village Apartments collapsed on him as he was investigating reports about the shaky structure in Feb. 2014.
"This annual award recognizes public employees who represent the best in public service, and there is no greater sacrifice than that made by Lt. Bruce Britt," said Rick Rowden, who chairs the Boone County Republican Central Committee, the award's sponsor.
Entirely non-partisan, the Robb Award is given annually to employees in all areas of Boone County public life. It is named for Ed, Robb, Ph.D., a former Missouri State Representative and Boone County Presiding Commissioner who died in 2011.
Previous recipients include retired City of Columbia public works superintendent Bill Weitkemper; Columbia police officer Tim Thomason; and Columbia fire chief Charles Witt.
Britt "always did the right thing, whether it was with orders or against orders -- and took the necessary heat," a co-worker remembered on Facebook. Britt was part of a team that went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Closer to home, he helped recover a man who waded into a pond, but never came back.
"Ed's family and I appreciate that the Committee has chosen to recognize the late Lt. Bruce Britt," Robb's wife, Rosa Robb, said. "Ed's entire career was in the public sector and he would be pleased to know that Lt. Britt's service, dedication and sacrifice to our community is being recognized in this manner."
The award will be presented at the Boone County Republican's annual Lincoln Day Banquet on April 10, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott.
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