Anchorpoint High School dean of discipline and football coach
K.C. Adams received accolades alongside law enforcement agents and
firefighters Wednesday during the Exchange Club of Gilroy’s annual
Blue and Gold Awards ceremony.
Anchorpoint High School dean of discipline and football coach K.C. Adams received accolades alongside law enforcement agents and firefighters Wednesday during the Exchange Club of Gilroy’s annual Blue and Gold Awards ceremony.
Adams received the Book of Golden Deeds Award, which “honors the quiet deeds of unsung hero in our community.”
“When our Book of Golden Deeds award participant first moved to Gilroy, little did this person know in the future how many lives would be touched in a positive manner by this person’s friendship and long list of good deeds,” Exchange Club of Gilroy President Guy Bostock said. “This person was not aware of the hundreds of children who would be influenced by this person’s kindness, common sense, life experience and hours of personal time to help them become better people, better athletes and better students.”
Adams, who serves as dean of discipline, athletic director and counselor at Anchorpoint Christian School, also coaches the school’s conference Coastal Athletic League-winning eight-man football team after starting the school’s football program. He runs a camp with his friend Marlow Brinson in honor of their sons who both died early in life. As a result of his coaching efforts, he was nominated for the California Interscholastic Federation’s Mentor Coach of the Year award.
Adams also has served as a community volunteer with the city of Gilroy and for Rebekah Children’s Services, a foster care program that housed Adams during his youth.
He also donates time to a local battered women’s shelter and children’s home and is involved with Celebrate Recovery, a 12-Step Christian program. Adams also serves on the board of managers for the Central Coast Section, the Sportsman and Ethics Committee and the local High School Coaches Association.
Bostock got choked up as he honored Adams for his service to the community despite a childhood in foster care and the death of a son.
“He was able to transform the hardship of negative obstacles into opportunities for his family and the community at large,” Bostock said.
The event also honored a slew of public servants.
Those included Fire Captain Brian Glass of the Santa Clara County Fire Department, who was promoted to fire captain after serving with the department for only five years. A Santa Clara County Fire Department representative described Glass as a “rising star” in the department. Glass, who serves at the Dunne Hill station in Morgan Hill, is in the process of obtaining a master’s degree in organizational leadership.
Meanwhile, Detective Carson Thomas of the Morgan Hill Police Department was honored for his dedication in solving crimes. Thomas tracked down the accused molester of a 16-year-old boy in November 2009, arresting him at a McDonald’s in Gilroy. He helped extradite a man in Spokane, Wash. who allegedly killed his baby in Morgan Hill.
A number of Gilroy public safety officers also received awards.
Gilroy Police Department honored Officer Mark Tarasco, who along with Gilroy firefighter Steven Hayes, developed the Extreme Youth program, which promotes and supports local skateboard and BMX riders. The two public service employees raised funds for the program themselves, and Police Chief Denise Turner said no public funds were spent on the program.
She also gave Sgt. Joseph Deras an honorable mention, after he and his K-9 partner “Gus” helped apprehend Kenneth Michael Aguero in January, a man who allegedly stole a police car and tried to run over officers in January. Aguero, who could not be detained after police hit him with a baton and Tased and pepper sprayed him, also allegedly tried to obtain guns that were locked inside the vehicle. Deras deployed Gus, which helped take Aguero down with the aid of other officers.
Gilroy Fire Department honored Firefighter Paramedic Jim Dempsey for outstanding service. Dempsey fits the bill of an exemplary firefighter as a team player, a giving person and as someone who pays attention to detail, Gilroy Fire Captain Tim Price said.
He cited a recent example in which Dempsey helped remove a child’s finger from a pipe while making the boy and his father laugh throughout the experience.
Deputy Steve Tyler Fernandes of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department received kudos for his hard work. In one instance, he investigated a man who was wanted for several warrants and learned that he was staying on Hecker Pass Road. Deputies went to the property and arrested three other people in addition to the suspect while collecting several weapons, including rifles and machine guns.
Officer Eric Locke of the California Highway Patrol was honored for his “dedication as a field training officer,” according to CHP Sgt. John Banister.
Cal Fire Captain Paramedic Scott Palmer, who could not attend on Wednesday because of an illness, received accolades for his hard work during more than 20 years of service, including his work as acting battalion chief for the South County district.
This is the 20th year that the Exchange Club has hosted the Blue and Gold Awards, which honors people for unity of service. Wednesday’s event attracted about 75 people, including 51 guests.
