By Mark Ambrogi
At age 10, Kyle Condra carried the torch for the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis.
Condra, now 39 and a Carmel Fire Dept. lieutenant, was named one of 38 Hamilton County torchbearers for the Indiana’s Bicentennial Torch Relay. He was chosen by a selection committee.
“All of our torchbearers have affected positive change in many ways,” stated Brenda Myers, Hamilton County Tourism president and chief executive officer. “The decision was not easy. These 38 people showcase how Hamilton County is a part of a bigger story in the state’s history.”
The torch will enter Hamilton County from Boone County at Zionsville Presbyterian Church at 3 p.m. Oct. 13. The torch route will then travel through Carmel, Westfield and Fishers, before arriving at Noblesville Square at 7 p.m. The relay will end Oct. 15 at the Indiana Statehouse, in Indianapolis.
Other Hamilton County relay nominees received a certificate and will receive a shirt to wear on the day of the relay. The committee used state criteria to narrow down the field from a strong pool of candidates.
Condra, a Noblesville resident, was nominated by his uncle, Greg Apple.
“I had no idea I was nominated until I got the letter in the mail,” Condra said. “To see how few people were selected and how many were nominated, that was quite a shock. Looking back, my wife (Traci) was asking questions out of the norm. She was doing spy work to get some information for my uncle.”
Condra, who has been a Carmel firefighter for 14 years and previously was with Fishers Fire Dept., earned the Medal of Valor from the Carmel Fire Dept. for entering freezing water without regard for his own safety as a first responder on a quadruple drowning call. He also earned the Paramedic Service Award and a unit citation for a cardiac arrest save.
Condra and his brother were selected for the Pan Am Games because his father, Ernie Condra, played a behind-the-scenes role with the games.
Another torchbearer selected is Chaucie’s Place Executive Director Toby Stark, a Carmel resident.
“This honor is about something much bigger than myself; it’s really honoring the work, love, dedication and commitment of Chaucie’s Place staff and volunteers, and so many others throughout the last 15 years,” Stark said.
Joining Stark and Condra as Hamilton County torchbearers are:
- Arnett (Arnie) Cooper, Arcadia
- J. Stanton Renner, Arcadia
- Allen Patterson, Carmel
- James Bauerle, Carme
- Albert Chen, Carmel
- Jennifer Shuck, Carmel
- John Beede, Carmel
- Angela Berry White, Carmel
- Dana Renay, Carmel
- Swati Singh, Carmel
- Barb Brockhoff, Cicero
- Shelby Bowen, Fishers
- Joseph Kalil, Fishers
- Kia Apple, Fishers
- Grace Wechsler, Fisher
- Sarah Demmon, Fishers
- Troy Fettinger, Fishers
- Ellen Huckabee, Fishers
- Dr. Marisa Walker, Fishers
- Santiago Jaramillo, Fishers
- David Heighway, Noblesville
- James Neal, Noblesville
- Nancy Mason Chance, Noblesville
- Michelle Corrao, Noblesville
- Garrick Mallery, Noblesville
- Cynthia Baker, Noblesville
- Ruth Hall Lusher, Noblesville
- William Kenley, Noblesville
- Larry “Bud” Wright, Sheridan
- Michael Moore, Sheridan
- Sabrina Richard, Westfield
- Alyn Bernell, Westfield
- Bob Beauchamp, Westfield
- Mic Mead, Westfield
- Steve Perkins, Westfield
- Terry Anker, Carmel
