History

Our organization has been touched by many hearts and minds over the years and for those not mention, we appologize. Without the great people involved in crafting our organization, we would not be the premier provider of emergency services in Texas. This history will be updated in the near future.

In October of 1978, in an effort to develop a city ordinance for the assurance of ambulance service for the citizens of Angleton, a committee was formed to study the need. The committee consisted of Angleton Danbury General Hospital staff, Life Flight personnel, local physicians, nurses, representatives from TDH, concerned citizens, and members of City Council.

In August 1979, City Council and Angleton Danbury General Hospital worked to study a city-supported service, much like Lake Jackson.

A committee met in March 1980 to discuss the possibility of the Angleton Fire Department assuming the responsibility of EMS in the city. It was determined that there was not enough daytime support to effectively provide service. In April, City Council passed an ordinance that would allow the contract of a private service. Angleton Medical Center Ambulance was the city EMS contractor, but after several months of negotiating financial support from the city, the service ceased in October that same year. Once again City Council and the committee found themselves in the same dilemma, finding service immediately or “doing it ourselves”. An emergency meeting on October 2, 1980 was called and an all-volunteer service was started. Police Chief Larry Hatthorn and Dan Beaver, who had run a transfer service, initiated the beginning of the volunteer service. This was provided with the help of several police officers and volunteer firemen. Since Mr. Beaver had all the necessary city and state permits, they started to provide service on October 2, 1980, leasing two ambulances from Dow Chemical for a week at a time. The city sponsored the service for ninety days; leased an ambulance from Angleton Medical Center Ambulance, and received a TDH permit on October 3. During subsequent committee meetings, several citizens had joined to help and the need for volunteers was recognized. The search was on for volunteers. The first Emergency Care Attendant class was conducted in November 1980, K.R. “ Doc” Adams and Andy Anderson from Lake Jackson were the instructors. 12 persons completed the training and were granted ECA certification. Also within the same month, with the help of these individuals and other concerned citizens an organization was formed. Angleton Area Emergency Medical Corps was adopted as the name, the color orange was selected and we began serving a 400 square mile area of central Brazoria County. The election of temporary officers yielded, Edsel West as Chief; Dennis Barker Assistant Chief; Cindy Roessler was elected Secretary and David Howard Treasurer. The organization borrowed $48,000.00 on a personal note to purchase two used ambulances, a few pagers, insurance, trauma kits and medical uniforms/supplies. They also rented a building on Hancock Street to house the ambulances. A charter was filed and granted in December 1980 and incorporated as a non-profit organization; separate from the City and at no cost to the City. A couple of days before Christmas, a new ambulance arrived - a 1980 Chevrolet Type III.

In the beginning of 1981, a Board of Advisors was formed. A Red Cross Multi Media First Aid class was held on January 5th. (At that time only Multi Media First Aid was required) and the first uniform was adopted….Orange Jumpsuits.
The 1981 election of officers was conducted, Chief Edsel West, Assistant Chief Dennis Barker, Equipment Officer Mike Patterson, Scheduling Officer Marian Goff, Secretary Gretchen Fox, and Treasurer David Howard. In the month of December there were 8 emergency calls. The first EMT Basic class was conducted at Marlene Valka’s Dance Studio with Casey Ginn as the instructor. Casey was an EMS instructor for Dow Chemical. A ribbon cutting was held in April 1981. It was also suggested that a source of revenue could be the attachment of a donation in conjunction with the city water bill. After a long four months of coordinating and pursuing, it finally became a reality and the first revenue check from the water bill was received in August for the amount of $2990.00. With the call volume on the rise and the need for a back-up unit, a second ambulance was purchased - a 1972 Chevy van. During 1981, AAEMC responded to 550 emergency calls. The first annual banquet was held in 1982 to honor those who give so much. Our guest speaker was Judge J. Ray Gayle. Calls continued to rise and gaining respect of the community, the organization was presented the Chamber Award for their continued community service. During that year, it was recognized that there needed to be some coordinated/organized drill training with the hospital. They had experienced a minor fire in an elevator shaft and a more organized operation was much needed in the event that a similar episode ever occurred. Drills and training were held in conjunction with the hospital and other emergency service units.

At the end of 1982, the search for and acquisition of new property was on and 600 East Orange was secured. Emergency responses for 1982 were 669.

The beginning of 1983, the planning of a new building at 600 East Orange was initiated. It was realized after Hurricane Alicia damaged the current building on Hancock Street, and a temporary home was located at the police/fire department. A signed contract was finalized in December 1983 to construct a new building. 690 emergency calls were made in 1983.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 1984. The new concept of Advanced Cardiac Life Support was on the horizon for our Basic Life Support (BLS) service. The need for a new unit was now being discussed. On June 1984, the brand new Wheeled Coach Type I arrived. Also, we moved into our new building in June. We now had three units, a new building and two “Special Skills” certified persons: Edsel West and Marian Goff.

In 1985, we had our first paramedic, Edsel West. We also purchased a cardiac monitor, “which could have doubled as a boat anchor”, we were now able to provide a Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) on a “sometimes” basis. We also had two members, Kevin Weindorff and Peggy Reid; upgrade their certification to Special Skills.

The organization continued to upgrade equipment and purchased a 1986 Ford Type II van in April 1986. In the fall of 1986, AAEMC added three more paramedics: Jerry Reichel, Kevin Weindorff and Marian Goff.

In 1987, the first paid staff member, Hope Robles, was hired as a clerk to help with office duties and record keeping. Emergency responses in 1987 had grown to just over 900.

The year of 1988 became the first of many talks of insurance billing; a source of revenue that could help in the funding of much needed equipment, education and day-to-day expenses.

1989 was a milestone year, the creation of a rescue truck. The idea was drafted on a napkin, complete with lights, generator and various pieces of rescue equipment. The truck was a donation from Southwestern Bell and after many hours of hard work by Edsel West, Kirk Tinker and Bill Dyer it became a reality and one of the early prototypes for today’s rescue vehicles.

The arrival of a new truck in 1990, a Ford Wheeled Coach Type I, came after a serious accident, which totaled our 1984 Wheeled Coach. Also as a result of the accident, we initiated a new class for our members, Emergency Vehicle Operations Course. In 1990 we went over 1000 in emergency responses.

1991 was a busy year; we had 1067 calls. The Hospital District donated a LifePak 10. Now we were fully MICU capable on each unit. The building was paid off early and the plans for a new unit to replace the 1980 Chevrolet was in the works. We also participated in the first Angleton Rescue School in conjunction with Angleton Volunteer Fire Department. It became a huge success.

The second annual rescue school was held in 1992 and the acquisition of a 1991 Ford Wheeled Coach Type I ambulance was completed.

In 1993, we began participation in the Trauma RAC R and finally, our land was paid off. We responded to 1169 calls this year.

The year 1994 was another milestone year. We again sponsored and participated in annual rescue school. Four of our members were trained in Critical Incident Stress Management. We converted our radio system to the county 800mhz system. With the help of Hermann Life Flight we brought in outside training in ACLS and BTLS. In December, long time Chief Edsel West was taking a new job outside this area. Assistant Chief Lucille Maes would move into the vacated position and assume the role of Chief.   West had been the Chief from day one, and had brought leadership and growth to the organization.
Lucille eagerly accepted this leadership position and took a proactive approach to guiding the organization into the future. Bunkrooms were added in the current building to allow out – of – towners to sleep at the building in something other than lawn chairs while taking call.

After much hard work and research, in September of 1995, insurance billing became a reality. This gave us the funding that we desperately needed for the organization to grow.

In 1996, a full time office clerk was hired and a 1996 Type III Ford Osage replaced the 1986 Ford van.

In early 1997, another milestone, a paid director became a reality. Lucille Maes was tapped as the new hire. The Board also approved the purchase of a supervisor vehicle, a 1996 Chevrolet Suburban. Plans were initiated regarding a new building. We had outgrown the old one and were in dire need of an expansion. Approval of the purchase of a new ambulance to replace the 1990 Ford Type I was given. Plans and financing were completed in October 1997 for the new building. Purchase of a 1997 Braun Type III ambulance was made. That truck was on showcase in November at the Texas EMS conference and delivered in December.

In 1997 calls had increased significantly to a total of 1643.

1998 was a very good year. We broke ground on the new building, which was completed in October, made plans for hiring a paramedic to help off set the decline in volunteerism, and ordered a new truck, bringing the fleet up to four units. Calls for 1998 was a 1630.

A paid paramedic was hired in the beginning of 1999. We took delivery of our new 1998 Ford Braun Type III. Another dream of ours came true; we created a DWI Public Service Announcement. It is a wrecked vehicle on a flat bed trailer, with a banner attached to reminding persons to “NOT DRINK and DRIVE”. This was in conjunction with Allstate and the Angleton Fire Department. This display is taken to various locations through out our community and especially to Homecoming, Graduation and Prom at our local high school. It has also been displayed in other communities as well. We were awarded a $1000 Allstate Safety Award as a result of this effort. Members of AAEMC were selected to attend a beta national roll out class of Advanced Medical Life Support in conjunction with TEEX. As an even bigger achievement, we were awarded the Greater Houston Area EMS Council Volunteer EMS Provider of the Year for 1999. We subsequently were able to host the first Advanced Medical Life Support Course here in the fall.

In the 2000, we paid off our new building.   We also ordered a new ambulance to replace 1991 Ford. Y2K also meant that we made over 2000 emergency calls that year. In May of 2000 we supplied the Angleton Police Department with an Automatic External Defibrillator, to be placed in the patrol supervisors vehicle and training for all of the patrol sergeants and corporals. This would allow a first responding officer’s rapid access to an AED. Additionally, we have trained Angleton Police Department personnel and Angleton Fire Department Volunteers in AHA CPR for the past several years. Also in 2000, our Sunshine committee was created. This committee is made up of crew members and spouses who in addition to running emergency calls take the time to work very hard to assist those in need in our community. They sponsored seven families for Thanksgiving dinner and sponsored one family at Christmas. At this time, we had six paid staffers, including the Office Manager.

In February 2001, Lucille Maes was appointed Treasurer of RAC “R” after several years of working closely with that group.
In 2001, the Board created a new position, Assistant Administrator. This position was filled in May by Jason Perez, LP. We also added another paid paramedic, which brought staff to eight full time employees and thirty-four volunteers. We added another support vehicle to our fleet, 2001 Ford 250 Diesel Pick up and with the help of a RAC “R” grant designed and built a special operations trailer for use in Mass Casualty Incidents and Disasters. In November 2001 we established a Brazoria County EMS Directors Association and encourage the EMS Directors to meet here quarterly for a morning of learning and networking. AAEMC installed Drive Cams in all it’s vehicles and requires each member to take an initial class in Emergency Vehicle Operations with an annual refresher class. Additionally, our protocols were upgraded and new drugs added for our treatment of patients. Emergency calls for 2001 were up to 2319.

In early 2002 we asked Dennis Bonnen, State Representative District 25 to introduce legislation next session that would require motorist to vacate adjacent lanes or slow down whenever they encountered an emergency vehicle stopped on or near the roadway. In September we signed a contract to be a National Registry clinical site for the Department of the Army and continue to serve as a clinical site for San Jacinto College-Central and Brazosport College.

Updated History Coming Soon

"An elite group of highly trained individuals dedicated to the preservation of life"