Upon moving to Pawnee, Oklahoma from Pittsburg in 1977, Don asked his wife, “What can I do here”? Little did he know the path that his life was to take over the next 50 years, nor the impact he would have on countless lives.

Don started out as a rookie carpenter and concrete man, later becoming part owner of the local lumber and hardware store. He accomplished this while raising a family, serving on the local school board, and volunteering for 22 years as a firefighter.

Additionally, Don has dedicated 40-plus years to his community as an EMT, first as a Basic then progressing in 1985 to the Intermediate level. Today, he continues to serve as the training officer, keeping the department up-to-date on certifications and new techniques. Recently Don received a federal grant to teach, retain, and equip more EMTs in the rural area.

Don is always willing to teach if one is willing to learn. He always looks to give a hand up, not a handout.

Oh, the stories he could tell about the changes he has seen over the past 40 years in rural emergency medicine. Our department and the community are grateful for his service and contributions. Pawnee Ambulance Service is honored to name Mr. Don Speicher as a Star of Life.

Don Speicher represents the state of Oklahoma as a 2023 Oklahoma Ambulance Association Star of Life.

Southern Oklahoma Ambulance is proud to present Josh Morgan as an outstanding star in EMS. Josh is a dedicated healthcare professional with a career spanning more than 18 years. He began his journey as an EMT at AMR in 2005, subsequently expanding his skills and knowledge across several services statewide. Achieving his Paramedic certification in 2010 marked a key milestone in his career, bolstered further when he became a certified Flight Paramedic for Air Evac Life Team.

Outside of his primary profession, Josh spent more than 12 years as a volunteer firefighter at Corum and Meridian Volunteer Fire Departments, showcasing his unwavering commitment to serving his community. His passion for helping others extends beyond the physical realm of healthcare as he is currently pursuing a master’s degree in medical health counseling, with a specific focus on trauma.

His goal is to provide invaluable peer support to EMS agencies, with an ardent desire to help his colleagues avoid developing PTSD and burnout. As a devoted husband to his wonderful wife Allison for 29 years and a proud father to Lilyan, Wyatt, and Jenson, Josh is a true family man.

Joshua Morgan represents the state of Oklahoma as a 2023 Oklahoma Ambulance Association Star of Life.

Kendra Rene Vermillion was born in Seiling, OK and graduated from Seiling Public Schools in 2009. She continued her education at Northern Oklahoma College, where she also played JUCO Division II basketball, and graduated with honors in 2011. During her two years at NOC, Kendra assisted her basketball team in reaching the National Tournament twice and the Final Four during her Sophomore year. This was the first time in NOC’s history that the women’s JUCO basketball team reached the National Tournament.

After graduating, Kendra found her love for EMS when she attended a Basic EMT class in Enid, OK and developed a passion for caring for others. Kendra began her career at Life EMS in 2015, and obtained her Advanced EMT license at Redlands Community College in 2017.

In addition to running full-time on the ambulance, Kendra is constantly looking for ways to improve the service. She created and implemented Life’s EMT and AEMT orientation and training program, which earned her the title Senior Field Training Officer. Kendra is well respected by her coworkers and emergency department personnel for her professional demeanor and medical knowledge.

When not at work, Kendra enjoys spending time with her husband, Life EMS’s Star from five years ago, and their four dogs.

Life EMS is proud to have Kendra as its 2022 Star of Life.

Kendra Rene Vermillion is the 2022 Oklahoma Ambulance Association Star of Life.

Noelle Gettemy has been a Paramedic for 10 years. In the past, she worked for EMSA in Oklahoma City. She has served full-time at McClain-Grady County EMS for the past three years.

In addition to responding to emergency calls and providing patient care, Noelle works as the Quality Assurance Officer for McClain-Grady County EMS. She reviews every call that the ambulance service runs and monitors that patient care protocols are followed to the letter. She ensures that patients receive the best care and that the patient care forms are complete and written in a professional manner. Noelle is also known for providing outstanding patient care with compassion, regardless of the situation and severity of the patient’s condition.

Noelle is constantly looking for ways to update the patient care protocols and ensuring that the latest equipment and technology are available to deliver the appropriate care and medications to the patients during their medical crisis. She does thorough research to gain knowledge of the latest patient care practices and to decide what new equipment will work or not work for the service.

Noelle is well respected by her coworkers and emergency department doctors and personnel for her professional demeanor and medical knowledge obtained through continuous training and years of experience.

Two words describe Cindy Conley—selflessness and tenacity.

Cindy has served at McCurtain County EMS for 24 years. Although a single mother, Cindy’s tenacious character drove her to work her way up the ranks. She started out as an EMT, and then embarked on the journey to earn her Intermediate credentials while working full time and driving from Idabel to Durant at least three times a week, a 160-mile round trip. Cindy became a Paramedic in 1998 and was promoted to Assistant Director of Operations in 1999. In 2010, Cindy was promoted to Deputy Director, a position she holds to this day.

Cindy has overcome many personal hardships in her life but has always fought through them with dignity and grace. She always puts her job and family before her own personal needs. Whether it is managing staff scheduling, processing payroll, paying the bills, taking care of personnel issues, or going on calls, Cindy has always performed her duties in a manner that brings honor to our industry and especially our organization.

Cindy suffered a very rare brain stem stroke in February of this year and has been fighting with that same determination to get back to the job she has loved for so many years. Thank you, Cindy, and may God bless you in your recovery and for many more years of service. 

Wayne has been working in EMS since 1982 and has had a distinguished career. In addition to his duties as a paramedic, Wayne has been involved in almost every facet of EMS. He established what was to become McClainGrady County EMS, worked as director for Lindsay EMS, trained hundreds of people, both lay persons and EMS personnel as a BLS Instructor, In-House Instructor, ACLS Instructor, PALS instructor and PEPP Instructor. Wayne has also been a member of our local DMAT team, a federally sponsored citizens medical disaster team that responds to domestic disasters. As BLS instructor, Wayne teaches the local school faculty, local police department employees and numerous civic group members the skills of CPR and AED use. He also teaches first aid and how to react in an emergency situation to people whom have no prior training or experience to emergencies. Wayne has spent hundreds of hours writing refresher programs for the EMR to Paramedic level responders to ensure everyone involved in our local EMS system is updated in training and skill levels and meet the DOT and Health Department requirements for relicensing. During what little down time he has on shift, Wayne is the quality Assurance Administrator for our service, reviewing every run form that is entered into our computer system. Each call is reviewed and those meeting certain criteria are sent to our medical director for his review and comments. Wayne is very interested in making sure our service provides the best patient care and that each medic follows the patient care protocols approved by the medical director. Wayne has responded to numerous disasters in Oklahoma and within the continental United States. He has provided emergency medical services during tornados, floods and hurricanes. His area of response and expertise knows no boundaries.”

Rick Garcia has been employed at EMSStat since 2010 when he started as an EVO. After Rick received his paramedic license he took an early retirement from the Watonga Fire Department and accepted a full-time paramedic position at EMSStat in 2012. He remains a volunteer Watonga firefighter. The knowledge and discipline he acquired during his career in the US Navy have been put to excellent use at EMSStat. During his career at EMSStat he has been an advocate for improving education for his co-workers. He has also worked on improving education for all EMS providers. He is a Field Training Officer at EMSStat, a role he helped develop. Rick is also involved in Emergency Vehicle Operations classes and is a Train the Trainer in this capacity. He is also a valued member of EMSStat’s Disaster Response and Haz-Mat teams. An excellent clinician, Rick provides quality, efficient and compassionate care to his patients. Rick is well liked and highly respected by his co-workers, who look to him as a resource. EMSStat greatly appreciates the hard work, professionalism and commitment that Rick has shown as a paramedic.”

Mechele Cruz is a shining star of Muskogee County EMS. She has an attitude of “don’t-quit” rarely seen in any industry, much less, EMS. Mechele is known for her kind and caring attitude, not only with staff, but with medics and students as well. Occasionally in life, one is lucky enough to encounter a person who goes above and beyond as a normal course of their day and never thinks anything other than “it’s just business as usual.” We at Muskogee County EMS get to work with one such person every day and that person is Mechele. Mechele has been an AHA CPR and first-aid instructor for several years. She has been AHA Regional Faculty for Oklahoma for the last 4 years and is currently the Oklahoma region Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee Secretary. Her students routinely rave about her abilities and about how comfortable she makes them as they learn this life-saving skill. Many of her students relay how they were able to successfully use what she taught them to aid someone in need, and even to save a life. We may never know how many lives Mechele has impacted by this skill alone. Working several years on the ambulance, it is routine for her partners to see her going out of her way to help a patient. She has (and still does) bought groceries for elderly patients who couldn’t get to the store, cooked dinner to take to someone whose loved one was ill, bought school supplies and clothing for a needy child, or driven someone to a doctor’s appointment, all out of her own pocket and all of her own volition. At times, it seems unbelievable that one person could be that giving, but she is. Mechele gives of her time, her money, and her self, strictly out of a love for people and those in need. Besides being an incredibly skilled EMT-I, Mechele has worked for several years as a certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher. She is very knowledgeable and compassionate to the callers who dial 911 and calms them in the face of crises. It is not uncommon for Mechele to call back later just to check on them and see if she can be of further help. Since Mechele started at MCEMS, she has always been very involved in our community events and public relations. She has been at more health fairs, EMS tours, blood pressure checks, and job fairs than could be counted, and has been instrumental in developing our “Sentimental Journey” program. Mechele is also a certified child passenger safety technician and has an additional specialized certification in child passenger safety technician for children with special health care needs. Because of her outgoing personality, her involvement with multiple aspects of patient care, and her willingness to seek out new opportunities to serve, Mechele was promoted in 2013 to the position of Community Relations Officer, and is now in charge of our public education and public relations programs. Even now, she never stops looking for ways to provide care to the citizens that rely on us. Because of this, the administration and her peers have recognized her as the MCEMS Support Staff of the Year for 2014. When described as having a “don’t quit” attitude, it’s because Mechele does all of these things (and more that we may not even be aware of because she doesn’t call attention to them), on top of bravely fighting through a rare kidney disease that required multiple trips to the Mayo Clinic and multiple rounds of chemotherapy. It was only in January of this year that she was declared to be in remission. Mechele and her husband, Sonny, have a blended family with three children: Tyler, Dalton, and Kala. She and Sonny are very excited to be expecting their first grandchild in September. Please accept this as our enthusiastic and unreserved nomination of Mechele Cruz for an OKAMA Star of Life for 2014. She is very deserving and will represent not only Muskogee County EMS, but also OKAMA, with honor and distinction.”

Kristen began her career at Muskogee County EMS in 2015 as an EMT. In 2016, Kristen earned her certification as an Advanced EMT and in 2017 she became a Field Training Officer.

In 2017 while on a medical call, a shooting that was not related to her initial call occurred on scene. Kristen immediately triaged the scene to allow for the continued care and safety of her initial patient and partner while also locating the shooting victim and rendering care until another unit could arrive. This call is just one example of why Kristen is known for remaining calm under pressure and showing true leadership. Kristen did not hesitate to go to the aid of the victim even though it was an unsecured scene and her own personal safety was compromised.

Kristen has always had a passion for helping others. She is selfless, hardworking and dedicated. She is always willing to work, whether she is putting in extra shifts, assisting with Public Relations events, or teaching a new employee. She is also known for her positive attitude and smile, no matter how busy her shift has been. In 2017 Kristen was voted by her peers as the the Advanced EMT of the Year.

Kristen is admired by all who know her, most especially by her husband, Matthew. and her children Emma, Tuxie, Jacy, Alex, Caden and Addison. When off-duty, Kristen enjoys spending time with her family at sporting events and boating on the lake. Kristen also enjoys painting and playing with her dog, Lucy.

Because of Kristen’s outstanding professionalism and her exemplary performance, Muskogee County EMS is honored to endorse Kristen Bias for the Oklahoma Ambulance Association Star of Life Award 2018.

Kristen Bias is the Oklahoma Ambulance Association’s 2018 national Star of Life.

Andrea Earley of Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service has a bright spirit and a heart dedicated to serving her community. Andrea is a great Paramedic, but her real talent shines through in the amazing events she develops as the Public Event Coordinator.

Andrea organizes activities such as the Ardmore Touch-a-Truck, Kids Day in the Park, and city-wide bicycle safety programs. Andrea sets up and promotes numerous “crash bashes” to educate high school students in the area about the dangers of drunk driving.

Andrea designs and sells company t-shirts for breast cancer awareness, then donates the proceeds to support those fighting cancer. This year, Andrea voluntarily coordinated the emergency care and medical support for the 2017 Tim Tebow “Night to Shine Event,” a special needs prom night celebration.

Andrea is always willing to jump in and help. Andrea always pushes for positive promotion of EMS and she is truly a shining star in our community. For these reasons, Andrea was selected as the Oklahoma Ambulance Association 2017 Star of Life.