Jack Pitcock

[Guest guest]

Jack,

Good luck in your future endeavors and thanks for all you have done for our

industry and all those folks in Baytown (the citizens and your employees)!!!!

Gig'em

Dudley

http://web.baytownsun.com/story.lasso?ewcd=f248205ddf905a4b

City EMS founder retiring after 27 years

By Culver

Baytown Sun

Published February 18, 2006

Baytown EMS Coordinator Jack Pitcock is retiring after 27 years.

Pitcock worked for the Baytown Fire Department until the city asked him to

establish an EMS service in 1986. Pitcock accepted the job and had 30 days to

start up an ambulance service.

" When I started this thing, there was essential nothing. I was the first person

hired, " Pitcock said. " The tenacity of everyone involved is the only thing that

got the job done. "

Twenty years later, Baytown EMS is still striving to achieve their mission: to

provide the best quality free hospital care available. Baytown health director

Mike Lester said Pitcock started that mission and the success of the EMS program

is his.

" He has been there since the beginning and he has shown long-term dedication to

the city, " Lester said. " You can't replace someone like that; it will be a huge

blow to the program. "

Lester said the program would continue and he didn't expect a drop in service

quality.

" He worked very hard to make this happen and I think the program is situated to

continue with that mission, " Lester said. " It is a reflection of Jack's

dedication to have a premier program. "

Pitcock is retiring to take a job in the private sector as a consultant for

medical services. He said he had mixed feelings about leaving.

" I am excited for the new adventures life will bring me, " Pitcock said. " I am

going to try to enjoy the retirement, I am going to try and enjoy the new

career, but my heart and soul is going to be out in the EMS in Baytown. "

The success of the Baytown EMS program was another thing Pitcock said made him

wary of leaving. In the end, Pitcock said he was sure there are plenty of people

in the program who could keep things going.

" The people, " Pitcock said he would miss the most. " Residents of Baytown should

sleep better at night knowing they are on the job. "

Pitcock said his favorite memories were hearing from patients who he had cared

for. He said the little notes and letters sent from hospital patients were

uplifting and cherished by all EMS employees.

" I feel honored to have bee able to hold the position for the past 20 years, "

Pitcock said. " I have had a very fulfilling career with the city; this is an

opportunity for me in my career to step into something a little different. "

The city is honoring Pitcock for his 27 years of service Thursday from 2 p.m. to

4 p.m. in the Community Center.