Monday, January 23, 2012
12:00 PM Memorial service for the 29th anniversary of Vernon “Butch” Gudat’s passing
Location: Lutheran Cemetery, 914 N. Pleasant Street, Peoria, IL
Monday, January 23, 2012
1:00 PM Presentation of Butch Gudat Fund Scholarship and Grant Awards
Location: Central Illinois Fire Training Center, 7130 N. Galena Road
2012 marks the 29th anniversary of Captain Vernon “Butch” Gudat’s death fighting the Main Street apartment complex fire in downtown Peoria. Captain Gudat sustained fatal head injuries on January 23, 1983 when a brick wall in the burning building collapsed. He served with the department for 16 years. No Peoria firefighters have given their lives in the line of duty since.
This is the fifth year that scholarships will be awarded in honor of Captain Gudat. Butch Gudat’s son, Mike Gudat and daughter, Michele Gudat established the Butch Gudat Fund at the Community Foundation of Central Illinois as a living legacy to their father. The fund provides college scholarships to qualifying children and grandchildren of career and volunteer firefighters in Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties.
The 2012 scholarships will be awarded to Burl Rolett of Peoria Heights and Kelsea Sollberger of Peoria. The winners were chosen from a pool of fourteen applicants based on academic performance and short essays. In the essays, students were asked to give an example of courage that inspires them, explain the importance of family and friends in their lives and share a way they demonstrate dedication to their communities. Each of the winners will receive $1,500 to be used for tuition and books.
The Butch Gudat Fund also provides grants to Tri-County fire departments to assist with purchase of educational materials, installation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and other community fire prevention efforts. A grant in the amount of $750 will be presented to Logan-Trivoli Fire Protection District, represented by Chief David Tuttle Scholarships and grants are awarded each January.
The Butch Gudat Fund was established to create a living legacy in memory of Peoria Fire Captain Vernon “Butch” Gudat. The fund is a charitable foundation for assisting Tri-County firefighters, their families and their communities. It will provide $1500 college scholarships to qualifying children and grandchildren of career and volunteer firefighters in Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties and fire prevention grants to Tri-County fire departments.