Governor Gregoire, Secretary Reed to Award Eight Washington Citizens Medals for Merit and Valor

For Immediate Release: January 23, 2007

OLYMPIA � Governor Chris Gregoire and Secretary Sam Reed tomorrow will honor eight extraordinary Washingtonians with the State of Washington Medal of Merit and Medal of Valor. The medals will be awarded in a joint session of the Washington Legislature.

The Medal of Merit will be presented to Linda B. Buck, Ph.D., Dale Chihuly, Bonnie J. Dunbar, Ph. D. and former Governor Dan Evans. It recognizes Washingtonians who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding services to the people of the state.

The Medal of Valor will be presented to Timothy Bourasaw and Rick Bowers of Arlington, Alana Schutt of Lynnwood and Edward D. Marsette of Auburn. It recognizes Washingtonians who, at risk of personal injury or death, have saved, or attempted to save, the life of another.

�I am deeply honored to present these medals to such deserving Washingtonians,� said Governor Gregoire. �They are true examples of the Washington Way � going above and beyond to serve and help your neighbors and fellow citizens.�

�It is my great honor to congratulate each of these men and women on such a prestigious recognition,� said Secretary of State Sam Reed. �These two medals signify a higher standard of excellence and never settling for second-best. The recipients rank among the most exceptional achievers in our state.�

The presentation of both medals will begin tomorrow, January 24, at 10:00 a.m. in a joint session of the Washington State Legislature. A reception in the Governor�s Mansion will immediately follow the ceremony.

Medal of Merit Recipients:

Linda B. Buck, Ph. D., a Seattle native, began her love for the sciences at the University of Washington and graduated in 1975 with degrees in both psychology and immunology. Ms. Buck�s work earned her the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. After 11 years teaching at Harvard Medical School, Buck joined the research team at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in 2002. She is an affiliate professor at the University of Washington and an associate at the Neurosciences Research Program at the Neurosciences Institute.

Acclaimed for revolutionizing the studio glass movement in the 1970�s, Dale Chihuly�s glass art is world-renowned. In 1983, Mr. Chihuly began the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, now the premier international school for glass artists. In 1984, he was awarded the Visual Arts Award from the American Council for the Arts and was the recipient of the first three Governor Arts Awards. He is committed to promoting the arts in this area because his inspiration comes from the Pacific Northwest.

Astronaut Bonnie J. Dunbar, Ph. D., a Washington native and graduate of the University of Washington, pursued a career in engineering and science during a time when women in the field were rare. She has over 30 years experience in the aerospace industry, has flown in five space flights and logged more than 50 days in space. Currently, she is the president and CEO of the Museum of Flight.

Former Governor Dan Evans, a graduate of the University of Washington, began his public career as a state Representative in 1956, and, after serving eight years in the House of Representatives, was elected governor in 1964. The youngest governor in the history of Washington, his leadership led to the creation of the community college system and The Evergreen State College. After serving three terms as governor, in 1977 he became the President of The Evergreen State College. He was appointed in 1983 to the U.S. Senate when Henry �Scoop� Jackson passed away and later was elected a state Senator. He retired from politics in 1989.

Medal of Valor Recipients:

Timothy Bourasaw jumped into quick action when he arrived at the scene of a traffic accident on State Route 530 that involved a burning sport-utility vehicle. Rick Bowers joined Mr. Bourasaw in aiding the victims of the accident. Both men played a critical role in saving the lives of Tony Scappini and Marchello Galvez.

On the first day of his spring break from the University of Washington, Edward D. Marsette heard a crash outside his home on the Muckleshoot reservation. He rushed outside and to the automobile, which had flipped over and burst into flames, and pulled four of the six people in the vehicle to safety. When medical personnel arrived on the scene, Marsette asked them to treat the crash victims before treating his own burn wounds.

Alana Schutt saved the lives of three fishermen she saw drowning on Martha Lake. She boarded a paddleboat and pulled two of the men aboard, encouraging the third man to swim with her as they went to the shore. Twenty-two year-old Schutt jumped into action before emergency services arrived, saving the lives of the three fishermen.

The Medal of Merit and Valor committee in the Office of the Secretary of State consists of Governor Chris Gregoire, Lt. Governor Brad Owen, Speaker of the House Frank Chopp and Supreme Court Justice Gerry Alexander. Secretary of State Sam Reed is an ex-officio member charged with administering the program.

Those interested in submitting an application for either medal may request an application from the Secretary of State�s Office or visit www.secstate.wa.gov/medals/ to download an application form. Nominations may be sent to: Medal of Merit and Valor Committee, Office of the Secretary of State, P.O. Box 40220, Olympia, WA 98504-0220


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