Deputy Sheriff Adam Matthew Earls, with the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, was among the 36 first responders who received Governor Abbott’s Star of Texas award.
Governor Greg Abbott recognized peace officers, fire fighters, and first responders who demonstrated heroism and sacrifice in service to their communities and to the Lone Star State at the 2022 Star of Texas Awards Ceremony in Austin. The Governor was joined by First Lady Cecilia Abbott in presenting the awards to Star of Texas recipients.
“I was glad to attend the 2022 Star of Texas Awards today where our very own Adam Earls was honored by the Governor,” said Texas Rep. Reggie Smith (62nd District). “Deputy Sheriff Earls of the Fannin County Sheriff’s office was seriously injured while defending the people of Fannin County. We all owe he and his family a huge debt of gratitude. Thank you, Adam, for your service.”
The Star of Texas Awards were created in 2003 by House Bill 1937 to honor and commemorate individuals who made profound commitments while performing their duties as peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders. HB 1937 also designated September 11th of every year as Texas First Responders Day. Today’s ceremony honored and recognized 36 Texans for their remarkable courage and tremendous sacrifice in the line of duty, including some who gave their lives.
“The remarkable men and women receiving the Star of Texas Awards … represent the very best of Texas, and this award is a token of our gratitude for their immense service to the Lone Star State,” said Governor Abbott. “It is an honor to recognize the 36 individuals today in this room who have sacrificed so much and acted selflessly for others. I want to thank them on behalf of the entire State of Texas for the risks they have taken and continue to take to protect Texans across our state every single day. Our law enforcement officers, first responders, and their families will always have support from their Governor and the State of Texas.”
The 2022 recipients of the Star of Texas Awards are:
- Kreyton Paschall, Arlington Police Department
- Jon F. Riordan, Austin Police Department
- Lewis Andrew Traylor, Austin Police Department
- Charles Edward Patterson, Bowie Rural Volunteer Fire Department
- Timothy Pierce, Burnet Fire Department
- Manuel Dominguez, Corpus Christi Police Department
- Christopher Gadomski, Dallas Fire Rescue Department
- Ronald Hall, Dallas Fire Rescue Department
- Pauline Angelique Perez, Dallas Fire Rescue Department
- Juan Barron, Dallas Police Department
- Barbara Ann Fenley, Eastland County Sheriff’s Office
- Armando Lopez, El Paso Fire Department
- Adam Matthew Earls, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office
- Keith Laughlin, Georgetown Police Department
- Ashley Wall, Georgetown Police Department
- Ross Duncan Koonce, Harris County Constable Precinct 1
- Kareem Anthony Atkins, Harris County Constable Precinct 4
- Juqaim Sheldean Barthen, Harris County Constable Precinct 4
- Darryl Wayne Garrett, Harris County Constable Precinct 4
- Chris Hendrix, Harris County Constable Precinct 4
- Darren Almendarez, Harris County Sheriff’s Office
- Samuel Cleveland, Houston Police Department
- Chase Elliott Cormier, Houston Police Department
- William J. Jeffrey, Houston Police Department
- Harold Lloyd Preston, Houston Police Department
- Sean Sebastian Rios, Houston Police Department
- Jarrid Sallee, Houston Police Department
- Michael Wylie Vance, Houston Police Department
- Courtney T. Waller, Houston Police Department
- Sherman Otto Benys, Jr., Kingsville Police Department
- Richard Lee Houston II, Mesquite Police Department
- Alejandro Munoz, Odessa Police Department
- Jaden Maizie Bender, San Antonio Police Department
- Ralph P. Delgado, Jr., San Antonio Police Department
- Seth D. Hudson, Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement Department
- Michael Cardenas, Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office