Honorees

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Year Honored
2009
Honoree
John Pittman
Agency
Memorial Hermann Life Flight
Agency City
Houston
Agency State
TX
Last Call
7/17/99
Cause of Death
Medical Aviation Accident
Biography
The Greek poet, Homer, once wrote "life and death are balanced on the edge of a razor." Their mission, indeed their job, to provide medical care to those with the greatest need, was simple but always with risk. They saved lives while balancing their own on the edge of a razor. Yet, they did this day in and day out. All of Texas mourns the loss of these special people; they will be sorely missed. This statement was made by the Honorable Ken Bentsen of Texas House of Representatives during the memorial held for the medical team at Rice University.<br /> <br /> John Pittman, 58, was killed in the line of duty on July 17, 1999. He was the pilot of the medical helicopter and part of the medical team involved in a patient transport. He began to have rotor blade problems and the helicopter crashed into a pasture in Fort Benty County about 60 miles south of Houston, Texas.<br /> <br /> Pittman was a 30-year veteran helicopter pilot and had been with Life Flight for ten years. "He was an excellent pilot with a good flying record and I am sure he did all he could to keep from going down," stated a friend.<br /> <br /> "John was a dedicated and caring individual and the lives he saved truly made a difference, stated George Harris, Chairman of Memorial Hermann Life Flight.<br /> <br /> Honored 2009