On Monday, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Piedmont Columbus Regional, and LifeLink Foundation posthumously honored retired Army Sgt. 1st Class and Deputy Kevin Hagberg as Piedmont’s “First Friday Hero” for his military and community service, as well as his final act of organ donation. The ceremony took place at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Opelika, and his wife, Jennifer Hagberg, accepted the award on his behalf.
Hagberg, 55, served in the U.S. Army, including deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, before continuing his career in law enforcement with the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Barbour County Sheriff’s Office, and, most recently, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. His 28-year military career reflected a lifelong commitment to service, a trait that continued in his work protecting and serving communities across east Alabama.
Born in Fort Knox, Kentucky, to John C. Hagberg of New York and the late Diana Walker Jones, Hagberg graduated from Academy High School in 1990 and immediately entered military service. He was known by colleagues and loved ones for his affable personality, charismatic smile, and deep passion for history, which he often shared through storytelling. He also had a special love for animals and cared for many pets throughout his life…