AKRON, OHIO - Rick Dent still remembers the fateful day on July 14, 2004, when he dove into a water-filled, snake-infested roadside pond to try and save the lives of a man and his two children as their car sank.
 
The Diane, Texas-based driver also remembers the special ceremony at the Mid-America Trucking Show at which he received the 2004 Goodyear Highway Hero Award for saving the lives of Bob Strickland, his daughter, Megan, and 5-year-old son, Paul.
 
Every year, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. seeks nominations for its annual North American Highway Hero program. The program recognizes a professional driver who was heroic or risked life and limb to help others20on the road. Nominations for this year's award are now being accepted through Nov. 30, 2009.
 
"I am really appreciative of the fact that Goodyear is still doing this program because it's a pretty exciting deal," Dent said. "I was really apprehensive about accepting my nomination and going to Louisville for the award ceremony because I thought I really didn't do what I did for any other reason except to help those people."
 
The Groendyke Transport Inc. driver was traveling along the deserted two-lane Highway 84 in rural Louisiana when he came upon the wreck. The car had swerved to miss a deer and ended up in the 40-foot-wide pond. As the car sank, it filled up with water. The man was stuck inside the car, his 3-year-old daughter was screaming and his 5-year-old son was terrified. Dent pulled all three out of the submerging car.
 
Few would have known about Dent's act of bravery had Bob Strickland not written to Groendyke Transport commending Dent for saving his life and the lives of his children. Dent hadn't even told his wife about the incident before news spread as a result of Strickland's letter. Dent said his reticence disappeared after his wife helped him realize that by accepting the nomination, and eventually the award, he could help the trucking industry improve its image.
 
"By recognizing what the three other nominees and I did, the Highway Hero program presents the trucking industry in a more positive light and recognizes the hard work and professionalism of all truck drivers," he added.
 
Dent said as a result of the Highway Hero program, he made some lifelong friends and still stays in touch with the other three nominees from 2004. In fact, one of the nominees, Pat Foraker, called him shortly before Hurricane Ike struck to check up on him and his family. Dent said he thinks about that fateful day on occasion. He wonders what happened to the family he saved since he lost touch with them shortly after the incident.
 
"Most of all, I remember how brave that little girl was after I pulled her out of the car," he said. "I'd love to talk to her again and find out how she and her family are doing."
 
Dent said he still wears the Highway Hero ring and jacket he received at the award ceremony from Goodyear with pride.
 
"Winning this award has made me more aware of how important it is for truck drivers to be observant of everything that goes on out on the road since we're out there everyday," he added. "It's also made me a more careful driver and more willing to stop and help other people."
 
Nomination forms and program details may be obtained by visiting the Goodyear Commercial Tire Web site at http://www.goodyear.com/truck/news/hero_overview.html or by calling the Goodyear Highway Hero Hotline at (330) 796-8183. Nominees must be full-time truck drivers and must reside in the United States or Canada. See the nomination form for a full list of criteria.

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