Robert “B. C.” Atherton is the son of Former Mayor Robert and Margo Atherton of Morrison, IL. B. C. will be remembered by the Morrison High School Class of 1976. He resides in Des Plaines, IL, with wife Marianne and sons Sam, 18, and Nicholas, 15.
Atherton is a Technical Product Specialist with W. W. Grainger, Inc., 455 Knightsbridge Parkway, in Lincolnshire, IL. While at work last fall he had the opportunity to assist an elderly man who fell. B. C. quickly utilized his specialized emergency training.
He described the event this way. He was taking calls from customers, helping them find products and answering questions. He looked out the window and saw an elderly man in the distance fall from his tractor lawn mower. He was in an open field nearly a quarter mile from the [Grainger] facility.
“He was not moving, so I knew someone had to act. I alerted my teammate, Scott Kunz, who grabbed some binoculars and noticed a lot of blood around the gentleman’s head. He had started moving but was in distress. I headed to the field while Scott called 911.”
B. C. grabbed his coat and some compresses and ran out the door. Upon arriving, he put pressure on the man’s severe head wound and stayed with him until paramedics arrived.
After his release from the hospital, Don Knoll stated, “He came running out to give me assistance. He saved my life.”
In further recognition of Atherton’s rescue effort, the following email was sent to all members of the Technical Product Support division of W. W. Grainger, Inc. by Regina Harty Allen, Customer Service Manager.
She wrote, “Just wanted to recognize B. C. Atherton for an act of kindness today! This afternoon, [Tuesday, October 22, 2013,] while looking out our third-floor window, B. C. Atherton noticed a gentleman fall from his tractor, just across from our parking lot here in Lincolnshire. When he observed that the man did not get back up quickly, B. C., who is a First Responder, quickly informed me that he was going over to check on the man, to make sure he received proper medical attention. It was apparent that the man had sustained a gash to his head, as blood was apparent.”
“B. C. remained with the gentleman until the paramedics arrived, providing support and assistance.”
“Much thanks to you, B. C., for being such a compassionate and caring human being! We are very proud to be working with you here in TPS!”
When he heard the story, Nicholas Atherton proudly summed up the event, “My dad’s a hero!” he exclaimed.
The gentleman, Don Knoll, stopped by the Grainger office a couple weeks after his ordeal and talked to Atherton. Knoll thanked him for saving his life and said he appreciated what [B. C.] had done for him. The men will get together soon and have a cup of coffee to celebrate.