Bob Olson to Receive Midlands Community Foundation’s 2020 Reflection Award

Midlands Community Foundation (midlandscommunity.org) is pleased to announce that Bob Olson will receive the Reflection Award at the organization’s 2020 Reflection Ball on January 18, 2020, at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in La Vista. Each year, Midlands Community Foundation honors an individual or individuals who have contributed significantly to Sarpy and Cass counties and the mission of the Foundation with its Reflection Award.

Bob is a lifelong resident of Papillion. He graduated from Papillion High School and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Bob built a multiple-unit office building in Papillion and owned a State Farm Insurance Agency for 35 years. In addition to his professional career, Bob served six years in the Army Reserve. He has been a member of the Papillion Volunteer Fire Department for 34 years, serving as chief, assistant chief, rescue captain, paramedic supervisor, treasurer, and president. Bob was in the first paramedic class in Nebraska. He started the Paramedic Service Program in 1981, making Papillion the first Volunteer Department to provide Advanced Life Support Services in Nebraska. He was a founding member of the Nebraska Paramedic Association. Bob was appointed by the Governor to work with State Senators to merge the State Board of Ambulance Advisors and the Board of Advanced Emergency Care and then was appointed to the State Board of Emergency Medical Services serving as Chairperson for 10 years.

Bob has served on the Midlands Emergency Medical Services Council. He has been on the Monarch Villa Board since 1974 and was appointed to the Sarpy County Hospital Authority #1 that same year and still serves as President of both organizations. Bob also served as president of the Tri Mutual Aid Firefighters, and as a member of the Nebraska Stroke Foundation, the State Critical Incident Stress Management Debriefing Team and Foundation Board, the Papillion Civil Service Commission, the Papillion-La Vista Schools Foundation Board and Recreation Board. He is a member of the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association and Treasurer of the Papillion Area Historical Society. He is currently very active in the Papio 150/2020 Sesquicentennial as Chairman of the Historical Committee and serving on the Steering and Scheduling Committees.

A 56-year member of the Papillion Gun Club, Bob helped establish the program to train and sponsor youth target shooters, having 300 shooters per year use the club and range, with many advancing to State and National competitions. He also has hosted many Hunter Education classes at the Club.

Bob has been awarded the National Transportation Highway Safety Award, the Aksarben/NE Firefighters Association Firefighter of the Year Award and the NE EMT Association EMT of the Year Award. He and his wife Karen have served as Grand Marshals of the Papillion Days parade. They also have been recognized as the Papillion-La Vista Schools Foundation Outstanding Alumni and received the Midlands Hospital Evening with Friends Outstanding Community Volunteers Award.

The mission of Midlands Community Foundation is to benefit the diverse needs of the Sarpy and Cass county communities by providing financial support, involvement, and service. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated millions of dollars to many worthy organizations with an emphasis toward prevention and education in the areas of health, art, culture, community, education, economic development, and human services. Learn more online at midlandscommunity.org.