Person of the Year 2010 Runners-Up: Chilean Miners
Luis Urzúa, 54, foreman
The last to step out of the mine because he'd promised to "deliver the shift" to President Piñera, Urzúa had a reputation for being protective of and interested in the men who worked on his crew. His democratic but disciplined leadership is largely credited for keeping the miners alive during the awful 17 days before they were located. "There were days when we heard the search drills just above our heads disappear and go silent," says Urzúa, "and it was easy to imagine that was as far as they'd go and we'd never be found."
From left: Urzúa with the Chilean chief of mines, Mining Minister Laurence Golborne, who was Pinera's point man at the mine, "It wasn't that hard the final 53 days," says Golborne, "but the first 17 — whoa!"; Urzúa close up