MADD volunteer receives award

Judy Luye

A local woman was recently selected to be the recipient of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) National Golden Achievement Award for the "outstanding" work she does as a volunteer for the organization.

Judy Luye, of rural Bragg City, Mo., was selected as the top volunteer of the year in the United States by the MADD National President.

Luye's family became victims of a drunk driving crash when their 17-year-old son, Ricky, was killed in 1996.

Along with her husband Richard, and two daughters, Lisa and Robin, Judy works as a farmer in rural Bragg City.

In 1997, Luye became involved with MADD. Since that time, she, along with other victims and volunteers, started and continues the MADD Community Action Site in the Bootheel of Missouri.

"I want young people to realize when they make that choice [of getting into a vehicle with someone], they need to pay attention to whether or not [the driver has been] drinking," Luye said. "It is their life they are placing in [the driver's] hands. They need to think before they act."

According to MADD Court Monitor Coordinator Bud Balke, who nominated Luye for the award, she is "one of the most dedicated, self-less volunteers that has graced the MADD organization in the United States."

"Through her determination and perseverance she has maintained the victim impact panel in the Bootheel area of Missouri for more than a decade," Balke said. "Why is that so important? Judy conducts the only victim impact panel that covers the area for southeast Missouri, all of Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky, Western Tennessee, and Northeast Arkansas. The importance of the only victim impact panel for this whole geographic area can't be overstated. The offenders that are being ordered by the judiciary from this large area need the assurance that MADD is continuing its mission and highlighting its message."

Balke said Luye and her "small cadre of volunteers" do more school presentations, booths, and fairs for a four-to-five county area than any other same-sized group in Missouri, adding that her willingness to respond outside her area through various media outlets fro MADD Illinois, Western Kentucky, Western Tennessee, and Missouri "shows the heart of the truest volunteers."

"The schools that request her presentations, even as far as St. Louis, speak volumes for her professionalism, dedication, and efforts," Balke said.

"Judy and her volunteers have highlighted MADD's message for more than a decade with billboards on I-55 that have been seen by hundreds of thousands of highway travelers and possible MADD supporters."

Balke said following Luye's son's death in 1996, she coordinated the start-up and continued operation of the Community Action Team, Chapter I, and present Community Action Site.

"She was very active in the MADD Missouri organization and the board," Balke said. "She has received continued emotional, financial, and loving support from her family and law enforcement in the Dunklin-Pemiscot county area for her efforts.

"Judy's dedication and attention to detail helped secure more than a half million dollars for the MADD organization nationwide through the Office of Victim's of Crime a number of years ago. This money was used by hundreds of the Community Action Teams. Chapter I and II's for updated technological support and equipment.

"Judy is the volunteer face and voice of a five state geographic area that is sorely short of volunteers. Without her efforts and dedication Mothers Against Drunk Driving could not continue effectively. She is truly a high caliber, irreplaceable MADD volunteer."

When asked about the award, Luye said she doesn't feel like she deserves it because she is just trying to help young people keep from making a potentially fatal mistake.

"I don't really that I deserved [the award] and I didn't do it for the awards," Luye said. "I saw a need and it is good therapy for me and it makes me feel like I'm doing something for Ricky. If we can do something to help a kid keep from making a mistake, it is worth it. Before [Ricky's accident], I never gave much thought to alcohol or what it could do or how much harm it could cause."

"If I can get one young person to be more cautious and it ends up saving their life, then Ricky didn't die for nothing. I don't want to see anybody go through what we went through," Luye continued.

"I've been very fortunate. I've had a very supportive husband. We are kind of like a team. I get the praise, so to speak, because my name is on the award, but I wouldn't have been there without him."