AUSTIN, Texas (KVII) — Three Texas Panhandle first responders were among 44 people honored Friday at the 2026 Star of Texas Awards in Austin.

Gov. Greg Abbott presented the awards to Juan Cruz Arizpe of the Amarillo Fire Department, Brent Harrison of the Castro County Sheriff’s Office and Memphis Police Chief Rex T. Plant.

The Star of Texas Award recognizes Texas peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical first responders and federal law enforcement officers who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty.

Plant was shot multiple times in October 2024 while serving a warrant in Memphis. He has said the injuries are permanent and contributed to his decision to retire when the Memphis Police Department closes later this month.

Harrison previously served as Hereford police chief and retired in 2023 after a 35-year law enforcement career.

The governor’s office did not identify the individual incidents connected to each 2026 recipient in its news release.

Abbott delivered the keynote address on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“Texas is eternally grateful to those who serve and protect our communities every single day,” Abbott said.

The awards were established in 2003.

The 2026 Star of Texas Award recipients are:

Juan Cruz Arizpe, Amarillo Fire DepartmentAlyssa M. Lopez, Austin County Sheriff’s OfficeHeather Cavazos, Austin Police DepartmentJessica Marie Jacob, Austin Police DepartmentStephen Sakr Johnson, Austin Police DepartmentAdam Ross Reinhart, Austin Police DepartmentJaxon Dean Walker, Austin Police DepartmentAaron Randal Armstrong, Caldwell County Constable’s OfficeBrent Harrison, Castro County Sheriff’s OfficeNikolas Robert Anderson, Cedar Park Police DepartmentElijah Monroe Garretson, Copperas Cove Police DepartmentLuis Jose Pomales Jr., Dallas Police DepartmentAshton Lawrence Rosebud, Dallas Police DepartmentKenneth M. Lewis, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s OfficeCaleb E. Halvorson, Fort Worth Fire DepartmentJames B. Huddleston, Fort Worth Fire DepartmentAustin Erik Griswold, Harris County Sheriff’s OfficeBenjamin Abbott, Houston Fire DepartmentColbey Bailey, Houston Fire DepartmentLemuel Delray Bruce Jr., Houston Fire DepartmentPaige E. Hennighan, Houston Fire DepartmentIris Rodriguez, Houston Fire DepartmentStephen Doyle Scott, Houston Fire DepartmentJoaquin J. Garza, Houston Police DepartmentJonathan R. Gibson, Houston Police DepartmentShawn Lee Wilson, Levelland Police DepartmentAndrew Lee Cavazos, Lubbock County Sheriff’s OfficeJorge Martinez, Lubbock County Sheriff’s OfficeMichael Lee Hankins, MedStarRex T. Plant, Memphis Police DepartmentRusty Lee Peace, Newark Fire DepartmentCorey Stefan Rogers, San Antonio Police DepartmentTyler John Sauvage, San Antonio Police DepartmentJacob Andrew Candanoza, Terrell Police DepartmentJerry Wayne Adamick Jr., Texas Department of Public SafetyDakota David Hughes, Texas Department of Public SafetyAlan M. Johnstone II, Texas Department of Public SafetyAustin Bryan Parrott, Texas Department of Public SafetyDamian Christian Rains, Texas Department of Public SafetyKevin Ramirez Vasquez, Texas Department of Public SafetyDerrick Martez Waters, Texas Department of Public SafetyJames Clinton Black III, Texas Tech Police DepartmentLevi Israel Ridley, Texas Tech Police DepartmentK9 Andor, Waco Police Department