The 2009 Person of the Year is a firefighter amid horror, a police officer on the roadside, and a volunteer in the cold at the worst catastrophe Western New York has seen.
By an overwhelming margin, WBEN listeners have voted online to select the First Responders of Flight 3407 as 2009's Person of the Year.
In a week of online voting, the first responders gathered more votes than all the other nominees-- including Gov. David Paterson, downsizing champion Kevin Gaughan, Erie County Health Commissioner Anthony Billitier and Bills wide reciever Terrell Owens -- combined.
For several hours on February 12, the honorees bravely battled a fireball that could have consumed an entire neighborhood after Colgan Flight 3407 crashed into a house in Clarence Center, killing 49 people aboard and one on the ground. Their support efforts continued for days, in a devastated neighborhood.
The work of any one these honorees is by its nature both courageous and anonymous, but to salute just one of them would slight countless others.
Their public face includes officials like Clarence Town Supervisor Scott Bylewski (left) , and Clarence EMS Coordinator David Bisonette, (far left) but it's also the lone officer parked for hours in a car on Clarence Center Rd.
It's Erie County Health Commissioner Anthony Billittier and a mortuary team sifting through debris, but it is also hundreds of anonymous duty-bound volunteers, responding on a cold February evening at a time when most other folks were content to be in bed.
It's the front line firefighter and the ladies' auxiliary.
Their efforts are individual examples of courage and testimony to the power of teamwork. Taken in total, their work is reassurance that government can work when people unite for common good.
While some of our other nominees carry more controversy or wield more power, the quiet courage and dignity of those in Clarence Center have earned the admiration and respect of a grateful community.
The five finalists and three honorable mention winners were selected by the WBEN News Team, based on a variety of factors that reflect the nominee's impact in the community. Some were included because of the power of their position and ability to influence events in 2009; others because of the admiration they inspire. The common denominator in all was the ability to capture either the attention or respect of our audience throughout the news events of 2009.
Second Place: New York State Governor David Paterson
As he faces an enormous re-election challenge, New York Governor David Paterson is at the helm of the state amid fiscal crisis.
Responsible for solving problems that will loom large in 2010, Paterson is aggressively attempting to make fiscal changes as his challengers line up for the 2010 race for the Governor's mansion.
Third Place: Kevin Gaughan,
Downsizing Champion
Gaughan's downsizing express went through Erie County towns and villages like a locomotive in 2009. Several communities have voted to scale back the size of their government as a result of his continuing efforts, and the train is likely to gather more steam in 2010.
(Photo courtesy Artvoice photo editor Rose Mattrey)
Fourth Place: Dr. Anthony Billittier, MD, Erie Co. Health Commissioner
In a time when politicians often grab the spotlight, and bureaucrat is a dirty word, Dr. Billittier offers a contrast strong enough to shatter any stereotype.
Billittier was the third person on the scene at the crash of Flight 3407, still helping with recovery efforts days later.
In the second half of 2009, he spearheaded the county's efforts against the spread of the H1N1 virus, with knowledge and a calm, unflappable humility worthy of praise.
Fifth Place: Buffalo Bill Terrell Owens
As the 2009 season dawned, the promise of Owens in a Bills uniform was the buzz of the town, lifting hopes of a football-crazed community.
And 'tho the buzz quieted quickly and the team often failed, TO's charity work (most notably with the Food Bank) is lauded and his mere presence puts Buffalo - ever so briefly- on the national stage.
Honorable Mention:
Buffalo Firefighter Jonathon Croom
& BFD Lt. Charles "Chip" McCarthy:
Croom and McCarthy are two Buffalo fire fighters killed in the line of duty on Aug. 24, 2009.
McCarthy was a 22 year veteran assigned to Rescue 1 and Croom was a ten year veteran assigned to ladder 7.
Both men were working a fire on Genesee St. near the corner of Bailey Ave. when a catastrophic floor collapse occurred sending both men to their death.
Their nonchalant bravery and their sense of duty leaves lessons for us all.
Erie County Executive Chris Collins
With a burgeoning yet ostensibly undeclared bid to become New York's next Governor underway, Collins pushed his reach into several areas of the county, expanding influence to the degree that it demands recognition here.
In 2009, he helped orchestrate campaigns that brought more Republicans to the County Legislature, vetoed a reform referendum that would have extended the term of county lawmakers and renegotiated contracts with all but one of the county's public employee unions.
Remarks comparing NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to "Hitler " and "the Anti-Christ" late in the year cemented his status as one of the region's most controversial yet influential people of 2009.
Buffalo Bills Owner Ralph Wilson
A man that clearly has hold over the psyche of Western New York, Wilson closes out 2009 with a pledge to find the management team that can bring this town the victory fans crave.
For good or ill, Wilson's impact in WNY is immense.
Wilson's position alone would probably warrant an honorable mention in most any year, let alone one that includes the signing of a brash $6 million receiver, induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the late-season firing of an ineffectual coach that he supported for several years.
With ownership succession and personnel issues at the top of the agenda, the moves he makes in 2010 are likely to be felt by the region's fans for many years to come.
The readers here never cease to amaze. They vote the first responders as persons of the year (deserved, believe me) but wait until there is a story about the pay and benefits for police and firefighters; people will be complaining up a storm. Let's be clear: you couldn't pay me enough to do what these folks do -- but because they are public employees, in a few weeks people will forget about what they actually do and will go back to complaining about them. Perhaps they should work for free...maybe that would then make people happy.
12/30/2009 7:36AM
REALLY???
This is the Best Buffalo can come up with for Persons of the Year? Well, that sure explains a lot.
12/30/2009 9:47AM
Buffalo Firefighters Killed in Line of Duty
I am commenting on the two Buffalo Firefighters killed in the line of duty and thought they should be higher on the list. These firefighters, that were making probably $50-$75k per year gave their life BECAUSE they were told from neighbors that someone (that they didnt even know) were trapped in this building. They gave their life and I believe these two individuals should be #1 or #2 on this list!
12/30/2009 10:01AM
joe
How can the 3047 responders be 'person of the year'?? They did NOT save one life from the crash. They could have came a week later and it still wouldn't change the fact NO ONE WAS SAVED! Just as bad is Terrel Owens. What did he win for?Teasching our youngsters that whining will bring you fame?
12/30/2009 11:14AM
AMERICAN
THIS was not difficult to predict. NOT ONE of the other nominees where worthy of that title nor do their cushy high paying non productive jobs come anywhere near the LIFE risking public SERVICE positions that first responders do. Whoever put this group together wanted the responders to win( which I am really hoping) or the person who did it is a complete jerk to group these people.
12/30/2009 3:33PM
First responders
I feel the persons who need the bulk of the respect are those people who did their job and were not on the public payroll. The volunteers who spent countless hours during the disaster and were not being paid. The fire fighters and comunity who help in the cold instead of sitting in a warm home with their family are the ones who need the real recognition.
12/30/2009 10:27PM
Owens
I can't believe that Terell Owens was even considered for this. He has done nothing here to deserve this. Wow!
12/31/2009 2:21PM
Embarassing, laughable, and disrespectful
I think we can all agree that this list is a JOKE. I like the first responders choice, but other than that, the list is embarrassing and disrespectful to the people who should be persons of the year. TO? Come on! I love the guy, but did WBEN seriously publish something that ranked him ahead of Buffalo's bravest?!
01/01/2010 2:57PM
Patterson & Gaughan
Two persons who did more to screw up not only this area, but thye whole state! Are we idiots? Obviously the answer is yes! Time to move!
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