Honorees

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Year Honored
2006
Honoree
William Podmayer, Jr.
Agency
TriState CareFlight
Agency City
Durango
Agency State
CO
Last Call
6/30/05
Cause of Death
Medical Aviation Accident
Biography
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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> "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.