Mary Lou Smith won't hesitate to tell you she's had a lot of guardian angels around lately.
But her favorite one, by far, is Kim Hawkinson.
On Dec. 12, Hawkinson, a carrier for the Ralston Post Office, was on her usual rounds when she arrived at Smith's house on Main Street and found flames coming from the residence's front windows.
With no sign of Smith inside the house or out, Hawkinson managed to push the door open. She found Smith and the two fled the burning house.
"Kim is my best friend," said Smith, who last Tuesday was present as Hawkinson received the American Police Hall of Fame's Life Saving Award at the Ralston City Council's regular meeting. "Until you go through it, you don't know how many friends you have, but Kim's the best."
Hawkinson and her actions were nominated by Ralston Police Chief Ron Murtaugh for the APHF award.
The Titusville, Fla.-based organization's board, which votes on approximately 50 such awards annually, unanimously approved Hawkinson for the recognition.
After receiving the award and the adulation of Smith, her family and the City of Ralston, as when first interviewed in the aftermath of the fire, Hawkinson said she was just doing her job.
"I was in the right place at the right time," she said. "It's very humbling. It's too much."
But Omaha Postmaster Keith Reid, on hand at the ceremony, said Hawkinson's actions are a reason for her and her colleagues in the U.S. Postal Service to be proud.
"It's above and beyond the duties," Reid said. "It's a tremendous honor to know we have employees of that character, who would risk that for a member of the public."
At the time of the fire, Smith was baking cookies and as Hawkinson received the award, Smith said she's back to baking again.
Smith said she often kept some kind of homemade treat on hand to provide for Hawkinson as the letter carrier went about her daily route in west-central Ralston.
"I try to give her a lot of treats," Smith said. "And I'd thank her all the time for her work. I've got a lot more to thank her for now."
Smith said her house is still being restored after the fire, but she expects to be moving back in about six months.
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