KANSAS CITY — Fire Captain Lawson C. “Gus” Stuart of Dyess Fire and Emergency Services was honored with the 2026 IAFC Ben Franklin Award for Valor for his actions during a trench rescue at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs and Motorola Solutions presented Stuart with the award on Aug. 14 at the Fire-Rescue International conference in Kansas City. The award recognizes his actions during the Feb. 10, 2025 rescue of a construction worker trapped in an estimated 30-foot trench.
Stuart, who has more than two decades of fire and paramedic experience, initially responded to a report of a fall on a runway. When he arrived, he found a critically injured construction worker at the bottom of the trench, pinned beneath a large pipe that had shifted.
The worker was showing signs of respiratory failure and the pipe was at risk of shifting further. Stuart entered the trench without shoring, a harness or other safety gear.
Once inside the trench, Stuart directed crews working to stabilize the pipe and coordinate the rescue. The worker was brought to the surface, where Stuart briefed EMS personnel so they could begin treatment. The worker recovered.
“Captain Stuart demonstrated extraordinary courage and an unwavering commitment to saving a life under dangerous conditions,” said Frank Galvin, vice president of Motorola Solutions.
The Ben Franklin Award for Valor is presented annually by the IAFC during Fire-Rescue International. The IAFC describes it as its most prestigious award, recognizing firefighters for service, courage and actions during life-saving incidents.
