From left: Barre City Police Chief Tim Bombadier, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, Scott Williams, Gov.-elect Phil Scott, Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon. Photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDigger
Williams received the Carnegie Medal, an award given to acknowledge acts of heroism by civilians, for his role in attempting to save the life of social worker Lara Sobel, who was shot and killed as she left work.
Leading the award ceremony on the floor of the Vermont Senate, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said that the state still feels “enormous pain” from Sobel’s death.
“It was also a moment when one of our citizens Scott Williams in an act of bravery did his best at great peril to himself to try to mitigate the situation and save a life,” Welch said.
Gov.-elect Phil Scott, a Barre native, said he has known Williams for some time.
“Heroes don’t ask for praise. Heroes don’t ask for credit. Heroes don’t ask for anything,” Scott said. “Heroes just stand up. They run towards the problem.”
Scott, like Welch, underscored the tragedy of Sobel’s death.
“These are celebrations we never wish to have, and honors we wish we never had the opportunity to bestow,” Scott said. “I know we would all be happier today if Lara Sobel was still with us, her children and her husband, and serving the people of Vermont.”
Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon and Barre City Police Chief Tom Bombadier both also spoke during the ceremony.
Williams accepted the award with a humble speech. He noted that Sobel’s death still has a significant impact on him.
“What I did last August, I recognize a lot of people might not do,” Williams said. “I will recognize that if I had taken the time to reflect on what I was about to do, I will tell you honestly I might not have done it. For better or for worse, I didn’t take the time to reflect.”
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