Summit County's Search and Rescue building near the Kamas library will carry a new name: the Alan Siddoway Mountain Rescue Center, honoring the retiring lieutenant's 42-year career with the Summit County Sheriff's Office.

The Summit County Council adopted a proclamation Wednesday, Oct. 7, recognizing Lt. Alan Siddoway's service and renaming the building, the Park Record first reported. Sheriff's Office employees and Search and Rescue volunteers packed the Richins Building for the ceremony. Siddoway was not present, though his family watched online.

When leadership told Siddoway about the honor, his response was brief.

"No one asked me," he said.

Summit County Sheriff Kacey Bates said that reaction reflects the humility Siddoway displayed throughout his career. She called it an honor to recognize someone who mentored and trained her in many capacities at the Sheriff's Office.

Siddoway joined the Sheriff's Office in 1985 and became the liaison to Summit County Search and Rescue, the nearly all-volunteer team that responds to lost, injured and overdue people in the backcountry. Bates said he championed training volunteers and purchasing equipment to help the team work safely.

County Councilor Roger Armstrong addressed Siddoway's impact at the Oct. 7 meeting, saying there are people alive and healthy because of his service. Armstrong said he hopes others will follow Siddoway's example.

Council Chair Canice Harte, himself a Search and Rescue volunteer, recalled one of his first experiences working with Siddoway in 2020. A 25-year-old hiker had gone missing near Kings Peak and was found dead days later after an apparent 1,000-foot fall. Afterward, Siddoway reached out to Harte, who then served on the board of the Friends of Summit County Search and Rescue, and asked whether the nonprofit would pay to plant a tree on the hiker's family property.

Harte said it was "an easy yes," but not something he would have thought of on his own. "Maybe it is now, but that's because of Alan," Harte said.

The proclamation noted that Siddoway's dedication extended beyond the mountains to the families waiting for word of loved ones, stating his work reflected "an understanding that each mission involves people who deserve compassion, respect and sustained attention."

Summit County Search and Rescue operates under the Sheriff's Office with a roster of volunteers. According to a March 2024 KPCW report, the team responded to 90 calls in 2023, and 94% of those came from people who live outside the county. The Sheriff's Office does not receive state funding for the service.

No date has been announced for a formal sign unveiling or building dedication ceremony.