Bill Greenwell honored with Buddy Award
Longtime Crusader Bill Greenwell has been awarded the “Buddy Award” for 2009. In the late 1970’s, Bill took on the effort of coordinating the growing number of fire departments that collect donations for the WHAS Crusade for Children each year.
In an emotional presentation around 6:00pm Sunday June 7 in the Crusade TV studio, Bill was also given an award to honor his daughter Diane “Dee Dee” Rizzo who died suddenly late last year. The award is entitled the “Above and Beyond Award.”
From page 74 of the Crusade’s 50th Anniversary book, Miracles by the Million, Bill tells author Bob Hill, “At that time I think there was 80-some odd fire departments involved and it was getting unwieldy,” Greenwell said. “I thought to myself, ‘What am I going to do with 83 fire departments?’ That number has since grown to nearly 200.
Crusade Director Phyllis Knight asked Bill to serve as a liaison between WHAS and the fire departments. Which he did for many years. Bill Greenwell was instrumental for puting in place the Crusade for Children – fire department relationships that exist today.
In most recent years, Bill and his family members have travelled to coordinate Crusade donation remotes in Columbia, Kentucky and Rough River State Resort Park. These two remotes have aired on WBKO-TV in Bowling Green for the past seven years hosted by morning weatherman Chris Allen. Area fire departments have expected to see the Greenwells each year. Bill will be stepping down from this role after many years of service.
Thank you Bill from the thousands you’ve touched and your decades of commitment to the Crusade for Children.
About the Buddy Award
The Buddy Award is an honor given annually to a Crusade volunteer who exemplifies the spirit and dedication of Bud Harbsmeier. Bud retired in 2000 after serving 18 years as Executive Director of the WHAS Crusade for Children. The honor was created in 2001 by former Crusade for Children Executive Director Dan Miller. The honoree is one who captures the spirit Bud put forth during his tenure.
Previous Honorees
2008: Albert Simpson
This year’s award was given posthumously to Albert Simpson. Albert, a Crusade for Children fire department coordinator for many years, died August 19, 2005. He was 54.
The above photo of Albert and Sue Simpson was taken at a WHAS Crusade for Children firefighter coordinator dinner in November 2003 held at Masterson’s in Louisville.
There are very few Crusades that Albert missed in his life. Recollections are that he may have only missed one due to a family vacation.
Each Crusade weekend, Albert was often seen wearing some crazy head gear like a rainbow wig or star-spangled bandana as he worked in sweltering heat or pouring rain at one of the fire department check points on the street corners surrounding the WHAS11 building.
During his career, he was a volunteer firefighter with Fairdale, Buechel and Pleasure Ridge Park fire departments.
2007: Bob Pilkington
“Pilk,” as his pals call him, is one of only four people who have participated in all 54 annual WHAS Crusade for Children telethons. And he worked on the two Cerebral Palsy telethons, the granddaddy of the Crusade, that aired on WHAS-TV in 1952 and 1953. The Crusade was born in 1954. The other three original Crusaders are Milton Metz, Ted Throckmorton and Dave Dumeyer, Sr. (see more below).
Even during this year’s Crusade, Pilk did his usual shift as he’s done for years. Strapping on a headest and telling camera operators what shots to get, he directed the live broadcast in Studio G Control for a 3-hour shift .
2006: Ted Throckmorton
He’s a pioneer. Ted Throckmorton is one of only four volunteers who’s been involved with every WHAS Crusade for Children telethon since 1954. Ted has organized and recruited phone operators who cheerfully have answered the call taking pledges from thousands of listeners and viewers for more than half a century.
2005: Milton Metz
Broadcast legend Milton Metz was awarded the Buddy Award June 5, 2005 during the 52nd annual WHAS Crusade for Children telethon. Metz has been seen and heard annually on the Crusade since 1954. He’s never missed a year. Only three others have been a part of every Crusade. They are: Dave Dumeyer, Sr. (who was awarded the Buddy in 2004); retired WHAS-TV producer/director Bob Pilkington; and phone operator coordinator Ted Throckmorton.
2004: Dave Dumeyer, Sr.
In 2004, Dave Dumeyer, Sr. was honored. Dumeyer’s career began at WHAS-TV in the pioneer days of broadcasting. The silhouette of the boy’s head seen in the Crusade for Children logo is Dave’s creation. Drawn in the 1950’s, it’s the profile of his son, Dave, Jr. For nearly 52 years, it’s been a part of the Crusade’s image.
2003: Ed Meiman
Lake Dreamland firefighter Ed Meiman was given the award posthumously in 2003 for his dedication as one of the Crusade’s fire department coordinators. Meiman’s two sons, Jason and Jody, have carried on the tradition as both firefighters and Crusade coordinators.
2002: John Miller
In 2002, John Miller was honored. Miller has been a part of almost every Crusade. He began as a firefighter with Fern Creek and later created much of the Crusade’s computer backbone.
2001: John McCain
Highview firefighter John McCain was given the the first Buddy Award posthumously in 2001 for his dedication and relentless pursuit of fundraising for the Crusade.
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