SOMO News
Celebrating Service and Spirit: 2025 Letz Award Goes to Cpl. Susie Ochs
Special Olympics Missouri is proud to recognize an extraordinary member of the Law Enforcement Torch Run family with one of our most meaningful honors: the Letz “Unsung Hero” Award. This award celebrates the people who quietly, consistently, and passionately support SOMO athletes through year-round involvement and impressive fundraising impact. They don’t do the work for recognition — they do it because they believe in the mission and in our athletes.
The Letz Award carries a special legacy. The first recipient was Ralph Biele (pronounced Bee Lee), who was instrumental in starting Missouri’s Torch Run more than 39 years ago. His vision and commitment helped build a movement that continues to grow across the state, and this award honors those who live out that same spirit today. Recipients are selected for significant fundraising results, year-round support, and for exemplifying the Special Olympics mission. The Letz “Unsung Hero” is someone who leads with heart, motivates others, and shows sustained commitment over time — not for personal spotlight, but because helping athletes succeed is what drives them.
This year’s recipient embodies everything the Letz Award stands for. Cpl. Susie Ochs of the Lake St. Louis Police Department has been involved in the Torch Run for more than 20 years and continues to make a lasting difference in her region. She supports many local fundraisers, attends the International LETR Conference to learn and bring back new ideas to strengthen Missouri’s efforts, and helps award medals at events whenever her schedule allows. Susie is also a hosting-agency leader for the Polar Plunge in her community, which has grown substantially each year under her guidance. In the words of her nominator, “Her dedication is matched only by her integrity, compassion, and ability to inspire those around her. She is a role model within her agency and the broader law enforcement and Special Olympics communities.”
It is our honor to present the 2025 Letz “Unsung Hero” Award to someone who has made such a meaningful impact — to her agency, to the LETR family, and most importantly, to Special Olympics Missouri athletes. Congratulations, Cpl. Susie Ochs, and thank you for your unwavering commitment to our mission and to the athletes you champion year after year.