A Dedicated Tampa Firefighter Becomes a Hall of Famer

Rush Roberts’ commitment to saving lives earned him international fame.

“I’m just blown away. I keep saying the word surreal. It’s just like wow,” said Rush, a long-time Tampa firefighter.

Rush has been inducted into the Blood Donor Hall of Fame and he is featured in calendars that are circulated around the world from a global company that makes blood donation machines.

And by his side is his wife Leah during the ceremony at the One Blood Donation center in Palm Harbor near Tampa.

“It’s not a surprise at all. That’s just how Rush lives his life every day he just gives back to people in his profession and his personal life, so it was no surprise,” said Leah.

Rush won a hard-fought battle with COVID-19 after emergency visits and quarantining away from his family for 21 days.

He has given his plasma, which is teeming with antibodies to help hospital patients who are fighting the virus.

“If you have the ability to donate, donate,” said Rush.

“It’s a huge example to set. It’s so easy to give back and do something bigger than yourself,” said Leah.

For Rush, it’s all in a day's work as a first responder but now he is urging everyone to become their own Hall of Famers by helping others.