Boone County News Release


Press Archives Press Room

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Thompson
2021 Boone County Preparedness Fair Planning Committee Chair/Event Organizer

Email: EThompson@boonecountymo.org
Phone: (573) 554-7910


Tom S. Hurley Public Safety Service Award

July 21, 2021 –To honor the memory and legacy of Tom Hurley, the late OEM Director, the Boone County Office of Emergency Management has created a new community service award.

This award seeks to recognize an individual, paid or un-paid, agency or organization which embodies the qualities and spirit of Tom S. Hurley, in their championship of, and service to, the community. The recipient of this award goes above and beyond their day-to-day work or duties before, during or after times of disaster to provide a lasting effect, and/or impart significant contributions to fostering preparedness, responding to emergencies, or building community resiliency.

Nominations are being currently being collected until July 31.  The selected awardee will be presented the award at the 1st annual Boone County Preparedness Fair on September 11, 2021.

Tom S. Hurley, born May 26, 1981 dedicated his life to serving his community. He worked for the Boone County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) from 2016 to 2019 when he was promoted to Director, a position he held until his unexpected passing June 30, 2019. Tom always knew he wanted to spend his life as a public servant and was particularly drawn to the emergency services field. He graduated from Hickman High School in 1999, and continued his education earning an associate degree in Fire Science from Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, MI and a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. In addition to working at OEM, he served as a Boone County Fire Protection District volunteer firefighter, an emergency medical technician at the University Hospital, Emergency Management Coordinator in Eau Claire, WI, and a park ranger at Carlsbad Caverns in NM. There is no better way to describe Tom’s selfless spirit, then this excerpt from his eulogy:

“Tom’s convictions and integrity were his compass in life. He would help anyone, and in fact, dedicated his professional life to doing just that. Those who worked with him remember him as a consummate public servant, dedicated to responding to people and his community in their hour of greatest need – always without fail, and never with the expectation of accolades or thanks. For Tom, being of service to others, especially those in need, was simply the essence of his character.”

To submit a nomination, follow the criteria outlined below and visit www.showmeboone.com/OEM to access the application portal.

Submission Criteria:

  • Must be a resident of, or agency/organization/business within, Boone County, MO.
  • If nominating an individual, they may be paid or un-paid (volunteer) for their services, but must exemplify a contribution above and beyond, or outside of their day-to-day duties.
  • Made a significant contribution to the community in the realm of preparedness, emergency response, or community resilience in the last 12 months. *

*For the first annual award submissions, contributions dating back to January 2020 will be accepted.

Nomination Procedure:

  • Nominations will be collected from July 1 to July 31 each year. All nomination submissions will be reviewed, and the recipient selected, by the Boone County Preparedness Fair Planning Committee. The award will be presented to the selected recipient at the annual Boone County Preparedness Fair during National Preparedness Month in September.
  • To submit a nomination, follow the below instructions:
    • Complete the nomination form on the Boone County Office of Emergency Management website following the guidelines.
    • Ensure all elements are addressed and a detailed description of services and their impact is included.
    • If needed, nominations may be mailed to the Boone County Office of Emergency Management but MUST be post marked by July 31st. Nominations postmarked after this date will not be considered.

Preparedness Fair Planning Committee
Boone County Office of Emergency Management
2145 County Drive
Columbia, MO 65202

The Boone County Preparedness Fair Planning Committee is comprised of public safety officials and first responders operating in Boone County or the municipalities within.

2021 Boone County Preparedness Fair Planning Committee Members include representatives from the following agencies:

Boone County Office of Emergency Management
Boone Health
University of Missouri
Boone County Joint Communications
University of Missouri Healthcare
University of Missouri Police
Columbia Police Department
Boone County Fire Protection District



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