Rodger D. Penwell saved an indeterminate number of persons from the possibility of being shot, Whitehall, Ohio, August 15, 1970. After a bomb was set off in a department store at a shopping center, a man ran from the store carrying a revolver with which he threatened persons milling about in the area. Police exchanged fire with the gunman as he fled into a parking lot. Penwell, 22, pipe fitter, was on his motorcycle at the scene. As he rode toward the fleeing man, a bullet struck the motorcycle. Noting that the gunman was running toward another area of the shopping center, Penwell sped to that section and warned persons there of the man’s approach. Maneuvering to a position behind the gunman, Penwell then proceeded to run him down with the motorcycle. The man fell to the ground and lost hold of his gun. Penwell retrieved the revolver and with it restrained the man until police who had been following arrived and took over.
51778 – 5754
51778-5754