This annual award is given each year during National Emergency Management Services (EMS) Week to a Rowan County Medical Responder who has made significant contributions to the County's EMS system over the last year. Nominations are given by Department personnel. The award is named after former County Commissioner Rufus Honeycutt, who was instrumental in establishing a higher level of emergency medical care to the citizen's of Rowan County by the creation of a county EMS service in 1984. Honeycutt continued to be an on-going advocate of EMS - helping to promote the service's improvements from Emergency Management Technician (EMT) to Paramedic level of care.