Hero newspaper carrier to be recognized by Fresno City Council

Ever since Brian Sharp helped save the life of 86-year-old Ann Loeprich, people have been calling him a hero. Now the Fresno City Council is making it official.

On Thurday, Sharp will come to the council chambers to be recognized with a proclamation signed by council members and Mayor Ashley Swearengin, and July 30 will be proclaimed Brian Sharp Day in Fresno.

Sharp is a newspaper carrier for Dark Nites Distributing LLC, which contracts to deliver The Fresno Bee. On June 26, he noticed multiple papers hanging from the front door of Loeprich’s central Fresno home. Sharp had been delivering papers to Loeprich for 17 years. She would call if the paper was ever late, so the fact that papers were piling up was unusual. Sharp called the sheriff.

When deputies arrived, they found Loeprich lying on the floor. She was dehydrated and incoherent. Deputies called for medical assistance. She was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where staff said that if Sharp hadn’t called for help when he did, it’s unlikely Loeprich would have survived.

“If you talked to my wife and kids about it, they’d say I didn’t do anything special because that’s how they were brought up and that’s how I was brought up,” said Sharp. “I just did what I knew I needed to do.”

If Sharp is being humble about his actions on June 26, Clint Olivier, councilman for Fresno’s 7th District, has shined a light on Sharp’s heroics. Loeprich lives in Olivier’s district, and he has singled out Sharp for recognition.

“Brian did an extraordinary thing,” said Olivier. “All he had to do was throw a newspaper, but instead he got involved and saved a life, and that makes him a hero and he deserves to be recognized by the community.”

For his part, Sharp thinks it’s all a bit much.

“I think they might be going a little overboard,” Sharp said of having his own day. “Why not just call it ‘Random Act of Kindness Day?’”

Tom Pagani, father in law to Loeprich’s son Kurt, speaking on behalf of Loeprich’s family, said that she was hospitalized follwing the accident and has since been to transferred to a rehabilitation facility. Initial reports of her having a broken hip were incorrect.

“She is improving and doing well,” said Pagani.

The American Red Cross Central Valley Region is also trying to get Sharp nominated for the Good Samaritan Hero Award at the annual Fresno Real Heroes event, to be held in spring of 2016. Nominees are selected by members of the community and members of the Red Cross are hopeful that someone will submit Sharp’s name, said Jessica Piffero, regional director of communications for the Red Cross’ Central California Region.

Sharp was unaware of the Red Cross’ efforts and would not comment on them. Olivier, however, thinks that Sharp is deserving of the recognition.

“The Fresno Real Heroes award was designed for people like Brian, who think creatively and act,” said Olivier. “I hope he get’s nominated. I hope he wins. He deserves it.”

This story was originally published July 25, 2015 at 5:33 AM with the headline "Hero newspaper carrier to be recognized by Fresno City Council."