Mayor Miko Pickett of Mullins, South Carolina, presented the Carnegie Medal to Kennis Steven Goodman at an Oct. 14 presentation held at city hall.
“We had the honor of recognizing Mullins native Kennis Goodman for receiving the prestigious Carnegie Medal for Heroism,” Pickett posted on Facebook. “His selfless actions exemplify true courage, compassion, and the spirit of community that we value here in Mullins.”
Goodman was awarded the medal for his Jan. 14 rescue of a man from assault in Columbia, South Carolina.
The 74-year-old man, who asked the Hero Fund to not identify him publicly, was walking toward the photo department inside a chain-store pharmacy when a 47-year-old man armed with a steak knife approached him from behind, knocked him facedown to the floor, and repeatedly stabbed him. Delivery driver Goodman, 34, was inside the pharmacy and saw the attack unfold. Despite being unarmed, he immediately intervened. Goodman charged toward the attack and kicked the assailant off the man. He then tackled the assailant, who outweighed him by about 50 pounds, and fought for control of the knife. Goodman seized the knife from the assailant and held him to the floor while store employees tended to the injured man, who suffered wounds to his neck and upper body, also losing a lot of blood. Police took the assailant into custody as the man was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He recovered in the following weeks and underwent physical therapy.
The man Goodman saved was there for the presentation and the two men embraced before Goodman received his medal.
Goodman posted about presentation on Instagram and remained humble about the impact of his actions, crediting his family and community.
“We are not here because of my individual achievement,” Goodman said. “We are here because of the collective power of community – the people who poured into me, who polished me, who pushed me from boyhood to manhood. That’s what a strong community does: it molds leaders, creates change, and inspires impact.”
