Lenny Skutnik

Martin Leonard Skutnik III (born 1953 in Mississippi, known as Lenny) is an American former employee of the Congressional Budget Office. He is notable for an act of heroism which led to him being mentioned by President Ronald Reagan in the State of the Union Address, which coined the term Lenny Skutnik referring to notable people who are invited to sit in the gallery at a State of the Union address or other joint meeting of Congress. Skutnik has held various jobs as a painter, supermarket porter, and cook for the Burger Chef restaurant chain. He has also worked in a meat packing plant and in a furniture factory.

Skutnik is a retired printing and distribution assistant for the Congressional Budget Office, generally known for his act of heroism following the crash of Air Florida Flight 90 into the Potomac River, Washington, D.C, on January 13, 1982. At the time, Skutnik was a U.S. government office assistant. During the rescue operation of passengers from the crashed plane, one passenger, Priscilla Tirado (who lost her husband and infant son in the plane crash), was too weak to grab the line dropped from a helicopter. Hundreds of people were watching, including emergency services personnel. Skutnik saw the situation, stripped off his coat and boots and, in short sleeves, dived into the icy water, swimming nearly 30 feet out to assist her. He succeeded in getting Tirado to the river shore, where she was subsequently taken to the hospital, saving her life.

For this act, Skutnik was invited to attend the 1982 State of the Union address by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on January 26, 1982. He was the first in what has become an annual tradition of notable people being invited to sit in the President's box at the State of the Union address. Skutnik sat next to First Lady Nancy Reagan. Reagan praised Skutnik as follows:

Just two weeks ago, in the midst of a terrible tragedy on the Potomac, we saw again the spirit of American heroism at its finest: the heroism of dedicated rescue workers saving crash victims from icy waters.

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