TxDOT honors Nicole Tyler with Vance L. “Huck” Castleberry award
CHILDRESS – Childress District Traffic Safety Specialist Nicole Tyler received the 2022 Vance L. “Huck” Castleberry award at the Childress District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)’s annual Safety Banquet on Thursday, Dec. 1.
“Receiving this award was a complete surprise and incredibly heartfelt,” Tyler said. “There are so many great people and for them to think of me is deeply touching.”
This award is presented to an employee in administration or engineering, a release from TxDOT stated. Tyler began her career with TxDOT in October of 2014. She educates the public on various traffic safety programs and visits schools and organizations across the district.
“She never has anything other than a positive attitude when it comes to doing her job,” Childress District Engineer Darwin Lankford said.
As a certified EMT and first responder, Tyler spends countless hours helping others, assisting in numerous types of accidents and saving lives. She also created the first ever Traffic Incident Management (TIM) team for the district, according to the release.
Tyler is the lead for the program, which consists of training TxDOT employees and local emergency first responders. The program has been recognized throughout the state as well as received multiple awards, the release stated.
“I tell people often that I have the best job at TxDOT in the best district of TxDOT,” Tyler said. “I am so fortunate to have a job that I absolutely love, unparalleled support and such amazing people to work with.”
Gary Simpson, sign technician in Motley County, was honored with the Terry L. Keener award, which is presented each year to a maintenance employee. He began his career in December of 2001 as a general transportation tech, the TxDOT release stated.
“Gary is dedicated to his job and career at TxDOT,” said Motley County Supervisor Scott Fulton. “He takes great pride in ensuring all signs in the county are looking their best and meeting required standards.”
Simpson is also actively involved in his community volunteering time at the annual Motley County Livestock Show as well as volunteering his time at his church, according to the release.
