A former Southlake public works employee was posthumously named a Star of Texas Award recipient after passing away in August 2020.
Every year, the Star of Texas Awards honors all Texas peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical first responders and federal law enforcement officers who are seriously injured or lost in the line of duty. Southlake Police Chief James Brandon nominated Bill Hollings in the private citizen category for helping Southlake Police keep an intersection safe after the traffic signals lost power last year, according to MySouthlakeNews.com.
Bill died the same day after he was struck by a suspected drunk driver.
To honor him and his memory, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott awarded him and 45 other Texans with the Star of Texas award during a presentation ceremony on Friday, Sept. 10. Bill’s wife Vivian accepted the award on her husband’s behalf.
“The city of Southlake is pleased that Bill could be honored in this way,” Southlake city manager Shana Yelverton says in MySouthlakeNews.com. “We are lucky to call him one of our own.”
You can view the full list of 2021 Star of Texas Award recipients on Gov.Texas.Gov.