Nancy J. Rigg '72 was presented the George B. Walter ’36 Service to Society Award.Nancy Rigg has been called “the mother of swiftwater rescue.” With determination and perseverance, she turned a tragic episode in her own life into a pioneering effort on behalf of others. A writer and filmmaker, she used her skills to advocate for a swiftwater rescue program that became a reality in 1992. Today, flood zones in Los Angeles have been mapped, rescue operations are coordinated, and the death toll has been substantially reduced. Thanks to Rigg, individuals who are swept away have a chance to be rescued, and rescue personnel have the training and equipment to coordinate effective rescues and also protect themselves.
Lawrence Today magazine, Fall 2007
