2008 Paramedic of the year
Doug Lamance of Morgan Co. EMS

Nomination Letter:

To the members of the Region II EMS Directors Association,
We would like to nominate our farther, Wilburn Douglas Lamance, for your Paramedic of the year award. He began working at Morgan Co. EMS on May 2, 1995. In those 13 years dad has worked his regular 24 hour shift as well as 48 hour shifts and basically whenever he is needed. When he began working for Morgan Co. he was an EMT and soon became an EMT-IV and in 2005 he received his paramedic license. He is now the Assistant Director which has its own list of responsibilities all of which our dad handles with ease. Not only is he always available to work an extra shift, teach CPR class, or go to meetings, he is at home with his family. He is always here when we need him and is a great dad. He tries to never miss special occasions when he is working. He had to work on the night of our proms, but made sure he came by for at least a picture and to see us before we left. For school assemblies he and his partner are always their to cheer us on. If any of you have had the chance to meet our father then you know what kind of man he is: Honest, trustworthy, caring and always their for a friend in need. We ask that you would consider our dad, Doug, for this award. In our completely bias opinion no else is more deserving then he.
Thank you so much for you consideration
Megan, Brett and Katie Lamance

Morgan Co. EMS

2008 EMT of the year

Charlie F. Williams

Nomination letter:

As the Director of Morgan County EMS, I would like to take a moment of your time to recommend Charlie F Williams for the EMT of the year award. In 1991 Charlie was employed by Morgan County EMS, it was my pleasure to become his partner at that time. I quickly learned that no one could wash an ambulance to satisfy Charlie. He took pride in how clean and organized the ambulance was; He would always say “would you want to transport your own family in a nasty ambulance”. Charlie is married to Patti; they have three children Lendal, Michelle & Lyndon. I have watched as Charlie balanced his work schedule and his home life because Charlie works for Anderson County as well, this means that he is away form his family for 48 hours at a time for the past seventeen years. During Charlie’s employment with Morgan County he has had an I and knee surgery and returned to work as soon as the Dr. would release him. His dedication and loyalty can not be compared with anyone. I consider Morgan County to be a fortunate to have such a dedicated employee.

Thank you

Lawrence A. Potter
Director Morgan County EMS / 911

Lifetime Achievement Award. 2008

Carroll Suggs, EMT-P

Nomination Letter:

Carroll began his career with Sevier County EMS on July14, 1975 at the age of twenty-two. He was hired initially as a driver and completed EMT level training on December 22, 1975. He enrolled as in the first organized Paramedic program shortly after and graduated in 1978. It is estimated that he was approximately the 300th paramedic to become certified in Tennessee. Carroll will tell you the most difficult part of being one of the “first” to graduate was that there were no paramedic predecessors to learn from. Carroll was fortunate in Sevier County to have Dr Charles Kid, a local general surgeon as his mentor. Dr Kid rode with him in the ambulance for a brief time and this is most likely where he learned the benefits of one of the most important aspects of EMS, the mentoring of future EMT’s and Paramedics. This is one of if not the best attributes of Carroll Suggs. He to this day still shows the utmost respect to students or new employees who are entering the EMS system. His years of experience and knowledge are of extreme value to these individuals
Carroll has been a part of the ever evolving pre-hospital emergency medical system. From the “original ambulances,” in which were really funeral home hearses with a light on top, to the vans, and the current boxes, the ambulance is now a mini ICU on wheels. The ambulance used to be very enclosed and the patient often became sick. Carroll was instrumental in having a side window installed in an effort to reduce these issues.
Just as the ambulances have changed over the years, so has every facet of patient care. Paramedic education, training and skill level has always been important to Carroll, and his certifications reflect that. He remains certified in: ACLS, BTLS, PALS, PEPP, PHTLS, and CPR. With most of these he has obtained instructor level certification as well. There has not been one more employee of Sevier County EMS that has not at one time benefited from working along side Carroll Suggs. He has always been an excellent mentor and has used his years of experience and knowledge to provide not just a place of employment, but a place of learning to those who provide pre-hospital care. It is these thoughts and ideas that remain evident today in EMS professionals practice. Being my first full time partner in EMS, Carroll’s desire to help educate providers is evidence in my practice as a paramedic today. After twenty years there are still specific incidences where I recall a piece of advice that was provided by Carroll Suggs.
Through the early years of Sevier County EMS, the request for service was received from a typical seven digit phone number answered at the EMS station. Carroll’s respect from the community was evident when multiple callers would request him personally to care for their loved ones. Also during these early years Carroll did on a volunteer basis the employees work schedule and other duties typical of administrator staff. Later he was given an official administrator title becoming one of the original shift supervisor’s, a position he remains in today and has built a quality team of EMS professionals around him.
Carroll has also had many part-time ventures during his career with Sevier County EMS. He served seven years as a part-time flight paramedic for the Med-flight aeromedical program and provided additional service to his community by volunteering with a local fire department where he obtained many fire service certifications.
One would think that having served a thirty-plus year career in EMS, seeing a multitude of death, disability and destruction would prepare a paramedic for anything that could be presented to them. However, in September of 207 Carroll’s life would change drastically. While enroute to what was going to be a wonderful family outing with his wife of near twenty-nine years (at the time)  and their two grandsons, on a two lane stretch of highway and during a rare 2007 summer downpour of rain. A vehicle in the opposite lane lost control and veered into the Suggs family lane of traffic. Having minimal time for evasive maneuvers, Carroll made every possible effort to lessen the impact knowing that a crash was inevitable. The front end impact was severe, Carroll was dazed and rattled and the first voice he remembers hearing was a bystander calling 911. The severe impact had fatally injured the driver of the opposing vehicle. Carroll’s wife Patty and their grandsons received multiple injuries, but thankfully alive due mostly to proper restraint. The two children had mostly soft tissue injuries. His wife Patty required inpatient hospital admission for observation of her injuries. Thankfully, the family’s physical wounds would heal. This was obviously a very emotional time for Carroll. After a period of time away from work, he again proved his dedication to his community, his coworkers and the profession he loves by returning to work and continuing to be a great mentor, administrator and friend to all.
In closing I would like to say that in our ever changing profession, with the demands physically and emotionally of today’s EMS, an employee that continues to serve his community and East Tennessee region with 33 years of EMS experience doesn’t happen on many occasions. Carroll Suggs has made this incredible commitment and sacrifice. He has certainly been a tremendous asset to the citizens and visitors of Sevier County. He has been a leader, educator, mentor and provider to his patients, his staff of EMT’s and Paramedics and anyone who knows him.

I respectively nominate Carroll Suggs, EMT – P of Sevier County EMS for the Region II EMS Directors Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

Thank you
Rick Valentine, NREMT P
Training Officer, Sevier County EMS

Administrator of the year: 2008

Jim Reed: Director, Scott County Ambulance Service

We the employees of the Scott County Ambulance Service wish to nominate Jim Reed for the Administrator of the year based on his outstanding compassion, leadership, and dedication to our service.
                Jim Reed came from the oil field of New Orleans to begin his EMS career in 1997 as an EMT for a private service in Scott County, soon after he proceeded to paramedic school. In 2000 Jim became an employee of the Scott County Ambulance Service, moving quickly to Paramedic / Supervisor and on to Director in 2003. To say the least Jim Reed is not idle in his time. He is full time Director, he serves on the regional communications boar, he is the Scott County Medical examiner, and a five year member of Region II Directors Association in which he is now the president. Jim also is an EMT instructor at Roane State Community College where he brings the compassion and dedication of EMS to his students.
                In the past five years Jim Reed has changed the culture and direction of the Scott County Ambulance. Under his leadership employees have received competitive pay rates, better units to transport our patients, more than adequate equipment to treat our patients and a sense of unity with coworkers that is rarely found in our profession. Jim is always willing to share his experience and knowledge of the field to help individual employees at the service. His daily mentoring has been an inspiration to several employees to persevere in their own careers as Paramedics and beyond.
                Jim Reed is a husband, father and grandfather. One would think with all that been stated it would be difficult for the employees of Scott County Ambulance Service to converse and bring their needs to his attention. However, that is not the case. His office door is always open and he states on a daily basis”I am going home, if you need me just call”. On many occasions Jim Reed has left home to come to work a truck for a sick employee, a mother needing to leave for a sick child, a dad wanting to see a child’s ball game, and various other situations. It is not uncommon to see Jim Reed day or night working scenes side by side with his employees. Jim Reed’s character is beyond reproach. He strives on a daily basis to better our service and give his employees a safe and respectable work environment.
                To say that Jim Reed exceeds the expectations of the Scott County Ambulance Service would be an understatement. His compassion for EMS and our service shows on a daily basis through his attentive nature toward employees, patients and our community.
                For these reasons and for so many others, we honor the opportunity for the nomination. Jim Reed is a truly outstanding individual; a professional in every sense of the word.