Latest news with #PatTillmanAwardforService
NBC News
21-07-2025
- NBC News
Brother of late NFL player turned war hero Pat Tillman jailed in California post office crash
The family of NFL player turned war hero Pat Tillman on Monday acknowledged that the athlete's brother, Richard Tillman, was arrested for allegedly driving into a California post office Sunday. No one was injured in the 2:30 a.m. collision in San Jose, but it damaged the building and may have resulted in some destroyed mail, San Jose Fire Battalion Chief Josh Staley said. Richard Tillman, 44, a San Jose resident, was being held in lieu of $60,000 bail following his arrest Sunday, according to Santa Clara County inmate records. San Jose police said he was arrested on suspicion of arson. Fire officials said the collision appeared to have sparked a blaze at the post office that was knocked down about 90 minutes after the first reports of the crash. In a statement to NBC Bay Area, sent on behalf of the Tillman family, brother Kevin Tillman acknowledged the suspect is his sibling Richard Tillman. The statement expressed relief that no one was injured and said Richard Tillman had been suffering from mental health problems. "To be clear, it's no secret that Richard has been battling severe mental health issues for many years," Kevin Tillman said, noting that his brother's issues have been on display "for anyone to witness" via his livestreams. "Unfortunately, securing the proper care and support for him has proven incredibly difficult — or rather, impossible," Kevin Tillman said. "As a result, none of this is as shocking as it should be." Richard Tillman was scheduled to be in court for the matter on Wednesday. It's not clear if he has retained legal counsel for the case. The Pat Tillman Foundation did not respond to requests for comment. Last week, Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter David Walters and firefighter-paramedic Erin Regan accepted the Pat Tillman Award for Service at ESPN's 2025 ESPYS at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Months after the attacks of 9/11, Pat Tillman put his successful NFL career as a safety with the Arizona Cardinals on hold to enlist in the U.S. Army with Kevin Tillman, a move that made national news. Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire on the night of April 22, 2004, amid his efforts to provide cover as fellow Army Rangers in eastern Afghanistan were being ambushed. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. He is widely hailed as example of public service and sacrifice for the United States in the 21st century.
Los Angeles Times
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
L.A. County firefighters to receive Pat Tillman Award at ESPYs
In January, as wildfires tore through greater Los Angeles, more than 7,500 emergency personnel mobilized — confronting searing heat and extreme winds, trying to contain the devastation. Among them stood an Olympic gold medalist and a professional soccer champion. L.A. County firefighters David Walters and Erin Regan, former athletes who were among the 7,500 emergency personnel who responded to the January wildfires in Southern California, earned them this year's Pat Tillman Award for Service that will be presented at the ESPY Awards. The award — named after Tillman, the former Arizona Cardinals safety who left the NFL to enlist in the Army following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and was killed in action — celebrates those with deep ties to sports who have served others, embodying Tillman's legacy. Years before joining the fire department, Walters helped the U.S. win the 4x200-meter freestyle relay gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. He swam the lead leg in the preliminaries, helping the team set an Olympic record that paved the way for a world-record win in the final. During the fires, Walters recounted the exhausting conditions as crews fought blazes that scorched nearly 38,000 acres — claiming the lives of 30 people and destroying homes, businesses and landmarks in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. 'We're pretty much trying to keep what is left here standing,' Walters told NewNation. 'So we're not laying down. We're staying in our position — that's correct, I did sleep on top of the hose bed last night, just staying ready to do what we can still do.' Walters told ESPN he is honored to serve Los Angeles. 'This has been a challenging year, but also a rewarding one as we watched the Los Angeles community come together to support their neighbors,' he said in ESPN's award announcement. Regan, who joined the department in 2008, once anchored the Washington Freedom to a Women's United Soccer Association title following a stellar goalkeeping career at Wake Forest, where she earned first-team All-ACC honors and broke multiple school records. Outside of firehouse duties, Regan champions female representation in the fire service. She co-founded Girls' Fire Camp, a one-day program introducing young girls to firefighting, and launched the Women's Fire Prep Academy, offering mentorship and hands-on training for aspiring female firefighters. 'My career choice was inspired by my family's history of public service, so receiving this award is a tribute to the many great influences that shaped my upbringing,' Regan said in ESPN's award announcement. 'As first responders, we take pride in hard work and serving others, and I'm truly humbled to be recognized alongside incredible heroes like Pat Tillman.' The ESPYs, hosted by comedian Shane Gillis, will air on ABC and steam on ESPN+ on July 16 at 8 p.m. PDT.
