South Orange Honors Outgoing Rescue Squad Officers

At Monday’s Board of Trustees meeting, members of the came to Village Hall for a chance to recognize two of their own.  Kurt Gibson and Don Boyle, the Rescue Squad’s outgoing Captain and President respectively, were read a proclamation of appreciation by South Orange Village President Alex Torpey. 

Gibson had been Captain of the Rescue Squad from 2009-2011.  Joining the squad in 2005, Gibson has also served in the role of First Lieutenant from 2008-2009 and is still a member of their Board of Directors.  He has gone on over 2,500 calls and is considered a ‘Lifetime Member’ for having surpassed 1,000 calls.  Some notable changes made during his reign as Captain were the addition of a third ambulance and a Captains car, as well as the addition of a shower in the actual squad.  However, according to Gibson, his biggest accomplishment was the reliance of his crew.

“We never missed a call since I joined the squad,” said Gibson.  “We were able to get out all three ambulances every time it was needed.”

Boyle joined the Rescue Squad in 2003.  He was First Lieutenant and Treasurer from 2005-2007, Captain from 2008-2009 and President from 2010-2011. Boyle is a ‘Lifetime Member’ as well.  Some of the changes he made in his time as an officer were the restructuring of the Rescue Squad’s financial records, the rewriting of the squad’s bylaws and he increased the overall membership of the squad.  In addition to all of the changes he implemented, his biggest achievement may have been getting to serve on the squad with his two sons.

“The Rescue Squad will have a lasting impact on me,” said Boyle.  “It is an experience unlike any other that I've had.  I worked with a lot of really great people and I had the opportunity to respond to calls with both of my sons, an experience that few fathers will ever have.”

Both men mentioned the amount of time and energy it takes to be an officer of the squad as a reason why they stepped down from their positions, however, both will still be doing shifts at the squad.

“To be really committed to running the Rescue Squad, you must make it a priority over much of your personal time,” said Boyle.  “I have other things I want to do and can't do both.”

Each man has participated in thousands of calls in their Rescue Squad careers.  Some of these calls have had happy endings, some have been tragic.

“My toughest call was a motor vehicle accident on South Wyoming Ave. this past summer where an 11 year old boy died,” said Gibson.  “When the SOFD pulled him out and handed him to me, I knew he was deceased.  However, I still had a scene to run and needed to make sure everyone else that was injured was taken care.  Everyone that day did a great job in very tough circumstances.  I will never forget that call or that day.”

Despite the tragedy that’s seen by an emergency medical technician (EMT), each one still wants to be in the thick of it to help in any way they can.

“As I think is true for most EMTs, although I don't want bad things to happen to anybody, I want to be working when they do happen,” said Boyle.  “That's what we train for and what our experience prepares us for.”

On January 1, 2012, Ken Greene took over the position of President from Boyle, while Will Harris has become Captain in place of Gibson.  Harris has said that he and Greene have “size 20 shoes to fill” in terms of having to follow the work that Gibson and Boyle have done. 

"Don and Kurt each brought different skills and abilities to the Rescue Squad,” said Greene.  “Together, they were able to complement each other extremely well, and truly did lead by example."

The public is becoming more aware of the work that the Rescue Squad has done in its 60 year existence.  Monday’s recognition was another way for the community to thank the squad.

“The Rescue Squad is not a club,” said Boyle.  “It is a professional organization staffed by volunteers that provide first rate emergency medical service to our community and our neighboring communities.  They earn the support of the community every day of the year.”