Camden, Tenn.–Fifty years ago in the summer of 1969, the Benton County Rescue Squad was formed by a group of men who met in the basement of the Stockdale-Malin Funeral Home –on July 22, 1969 to be exact. Their mission was to help people in need during emergency situations and render first aid.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary, the Rescue Squad will hold an open house at its headquarters at 295 Factory Street in Camden from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, July 27. Captain Dwayne Presson said, “We would like to invite the entire community to our open house to come out and tour our facilities and view our equipment and meet many of our members.”
According to Rescue Squad Unit Director John Beasley, the first officers were: Commander, W.T. Patterson; Vice-Commander, Jerry Berry; Secretary, John L.Garcia; Treasurer, Thomas Taylor; Public Relations Director, Tom Bordonaro; Unit Director, Charles Greer; Camden Team Captain, Woodrow White; Camden Team Lieutenant, Jerry Pierce; Big Sandy Team Captain, Gordon Wheatley; and Big Sandy Team Lieutenant, Larry Waters.
Of the original officers and members, Jerry Berry and Jerry Farris are still active lifetime members today, he said.
According to Beasley, on October 6, 1969, the Rescue Squad was chartered by the State of Tennessee, and on September 12,1970, active membership was approved by the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads(TARS). By January 1970, the meetings had moved to the Camden General Hospital, and after new construction was complete, the BCRS moved to their new headquarters and current facility on Factory Street on November 18, 1975.
Other notable events in its history include the acquisition of the Hurst Jaws of Life in 1979, which enabled the rescue squad to quickly access damaged vehicles to remove patients more quickly, and the building additions of 1988 and 2014, Beasley said.
Today, the BCRS is well equipped to handle many different types of rescue scenarios, and it boasts a membership of 36 total personnel with an active membership of 29 men and women who give selflessly to help others in need, and 19 lifetime members have at least 20 years of service.
BCRS members have also been elected to serve in key leadership positions at the state level in TARS and have served in integral membership, budget, and training committees. Lifetime member Ross Guy has served two terms as TARS President. Currently, David Tuck serves as TARS Region IV Vice President, and Tim Moss serves as TARS Historian.
Although the people may have changed over the years, today’s members share a common vision and the desire to serve their community as those original members did in the summer of 1969, Beasley said.
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