Burch Safety Award Goes to Hinsdale, IL, Physician: Dr. Lanny F. Wilson

Release #06-02—April 26, 2006

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Washington, D.C.—The Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Safety Award will be presented tomorrow evening to Lanny F. Wilson, M.D., of Hinsdale, IL for his voluntary service over 12 years as the first chairman of the DuPage Railroad Safety Council.  This organization has worked since 1994 to help the State of Illinois achieve lower fatality rates at railroad crossings, passenger stations and along rights-of-way.  The presentation will be at a 5:30-7:30 reception of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, in the Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building (presentation likely around 6:00).

Dr. Wilson became involved after his son and daughter were involved in a 1994 railroad crossing crash in Hinsdale, in which his daughter died.

He was nominated by Metra, the Chicago-area commuter railroad, for providing “continuous leadership to the [DuPage Railroad Safety] Council. With dedicated, confident, and challenging inspiration, he has moved people and resources, and called attention to safety issues in a way that enhances the life-saving impacts of new laws, public awareness campaigns and engineering changes.”

The council has had statewide impact and is in contact with allied groups and individuals in other states.

The nomination notes that Dr. Wilson “actively supports law enforcement efforts to educate the public, and to use enforcement as a prevention method.  He has communicated with court officials the Council’s concerns about the lack of attention and follow-through on enforcement efforts.  He communicates with railroad officials and federal and state legislators, including support for efforts to strengthen Illinois enforcement laws.”

The Burch Award honors individuals who have significantly enhanced rail passenger safety. It is named after the victim of a 1991 passenger train derailment in South Carolina. The Burch family established the $1,000 award in 1994 and has sponsored it ever since. More information on the award, and past winners, can be found here on our website.

NARP is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that works for more and better passenger train service in the U.S.