Lunch in the company cafeteria seemed routine on March 19 until Bill Wickham saved a fellow employee from choking to death.

Wickham was honored Wednesday with a lifesaving award from Union Electric Co. for his heroic efforts.

"I just knew that somebody was not breathing," he said. Until he performed the Heimlich maneuver, Wickham never saw the person who was choking: He had been across the room, standing beside another person who blocked the view.

By the time he reached her, other Union Electric employees had tried the maneuver with no luck. "I was ready to go ahead with mouth-to-mouth. She was close to that."

Wickham first learned his lifesaving techniques through company training. He also has used the Heimlich maneuver while on a Boy Scout outing to save a person from choking. Wickham is a certified instructor for the American Red Cross.

Usually, only one person a year is honored with the lifesaving award, said Doug Groesbeck, district manager. Union Electric employs about 6,200 people in Missouri.

"This is only the third or fourth time in eight years that I've given this special award," said Bill Carr, regional vice president for Union Electric. "There was no hesitation to do what was necessary."