Brain & Courtlin’s First Responder Friday Honors Bryson Bormann

Every Friday morning at 6:30 a.m., Brain & Courtlin pay tribute to an Eastern Iowa first responder during their 'First Responder Friday' segment! The weekly honoree receives a $25 gift card to Wild Hogs Saloon and Eatery in Walford and a $25 gift card to Honor and Respect.

Today's honoree is Bryson Bormann, who was nominated by his daughter, Hannah Bormann. The entry reads;

I am honored to nominate my dad, Bryson Bormann, for recognition of his extraordinary dedication, leadership, and the countless sacrifices he has made for the Preston / Miles Community Ambulance Service. For over 20 years, Bryson has shown up for his community in ways most people never see — and in the past few years, especially, he has carried this service on his shoulders.

What many people don’t know is that our ambulance service was on the verge of disappearing. It was hanging on by a thread — too few EMTs, too few drivers, and no clear path forward. It was a heartbreaking reality for a small community that depends so heavily on people willing to step up.

When the previous manager of the Preston service retired, our ambulance service was at a crossroads. Bryson stepped up — not because it was easy, but because he couldn’t stand the thought of our community losing something so vital. He took on the role of volunteer manager and immediately went to work rebuilding what could have easily been lost.

He recruited new EMTs and drivers, encouraged people to join who had never considered EMS before, reignited passion in past volunteers, and slowly, piece by piece, rebuilt the entire foundation of the service. What had been on the verge of disappearing is now stable, growing, and supported — because he refused to let it die.

And through all of this, Bryson continued to run calls himself.
He still takes weekend calls, holidays, and late-night pages without hesitation. He’s the person who will put family plans on hold, get up in the middle of the night, or miss out on moments at home simply because someone else needs help. His sacrifices — the dinners missed, the sleep lost, the weekends spent on call — are made quietly, without ever asking for acknowledgment.

He leads with humility, compassion, and a deep sense of duty. He checks on his team, supports new members as they learn, celebrates their progress, and creates an environment where people feel valued and supported. He has rebuilt not just the service, but the spirit of the service.

Bryson would never ask for recognition — he doesn’t do any of this for praise. He does it because he truly cares about this community and the people in it. The Preston and Miles area is safer because of him. Our ambulance service exists today because of him.

There are leaders who manage, and then there are leaders who save.
Bryson did both.

He is beyond deserving of this nomination, and our community is incredibly lucky to have him.

We thank Bryson for his service, dedication, and commitment to our community!

Our First Responder Friday winners are selected from nominations submitted by you, and we are in need of more nominations! You can make yours below. When including your photo, please keep in mind that any kids in the picture need to be your own. Please let us know if we have parental permission to post the children; otherwise, their faces will be covered when the photo is published on our sites. Thank you for your submissions!