Firefighter Yeakley Gets Star of Texas Award

AUSTIN (Staff/AP) — A veteran Lindale firefighter seriously injured during a January house fire received a prestigious Star of Texas Award Wednesday morning from Governor Rick Perry. KETK reports Joe Yeakley was battling the blaze when part of the roof collapsed on him. Yeakley was among dozens of police officers, firefighters, and first responders honored with the awards, distributed during a ceremony at the Texas Capitol. All recipients were killed or severely hurt in the line of duty. The award was created to honor police and other emergency personnel who exhibited extraordinary service to the state. Some 363 awards have been distributed since it was first distributed in 2004.