Purpose

The Johnston County EMS System Hall of Fame exists to honor and commemorate all the EMS providers who have come before and paved the way to help us become one of the leading EMS agencies in the state. Through the Hall of Fame, those individuals who have provided selfless service to our county, historically and today, will be memorialized as the pillars of our past that helped us become who we are today. Through honoring these individuals we will also honor the departments that became the foundation of our system today.

History

Up until the late 1960s, funeral homes in Johnston County were in the business of transporting patients to hospitals for medical care. It was in the late 60s and early 70s that local rescue squads began to form and take over the responsibility of providing care and transport for those needing medical attention. These rescue squads were formed and staffed by volunteer citizens looking to meet the need and help provide these services for their communities.

For several years, these volunteer organizations provided service for their communities, but as volunteer based service began to decline across the country, these emergency squads began to hire paid staff to help them continue to provide that standard of care their citizens had grown accustomed to. In the early 2000s, the rescue role transitioned to the local fire departments and the rescue squads became EMS departments. In addition, the standards for EMS education and credentials increased as the role became a recognized profession. This continued until EMS in Johnston County became primarily a paid role with career staff.

In 2008, the Johnston County EMS division as we know it today was formed with the merger of North Johnston EMS, which included Micro and Kenly Rescue Squads, and Benson EMS, serving the Benson and Overshot communities. This new agency was under the banner of the Johnston County government, but it was still a smaller force compared to all the local EMS agencies providing services for the various communities and people throughout the county.

As Johnston County continued to grow in population, the need for emergency medical services grew as well. To help meet the need, in 2012, Clayton Area EMS, Town of Smithfield EMS, and Princeton EMS merged with Johnston County EMS. This was a major shift for the EMS scene in the county, as Smithfield and Clayton were the largest agencies in Johnston County.

In 2017, Selma EMS merged with Johnston County EMS, continuing the progression towards one EMS agency providing service for the entire county.

In 2021, Four Oaks EMS and 50/210 EMS merged with Johnston County EMS. After this merger, all of the contracted EMS agencies had been unified under the banner of Johnston County Emergency Medical Services. We had now become one agency providing emergency medical service for the entirety of the county.

Today, Johnston County EMS continues to be a leader in the state, and the country. We are dedicated, continuing to progress as a EMS system so that we can continue to meet our mission, "to provide excellent care and quality service."

Selection Criteria & Eligibility

Individuals meeting the following requirements are eligible for selection and possible induction in the Johnston County EMS System Hall of Fame.

• Long standing member of the EMS System
• Significant service contributions to the EMS System
• Lasting contributions to the EMS System

Selection Process

Nominations are open January 1st to December 31st for the following year's induction.

Example: Nominations made from January 1st to December 31st of 2024 will be considered for induction in May 2025.

1. Ballots will be open and accessible on the Johnston County Emergency Services website and available by contacting the Johnston County Emergency Services office.
2. Each year, any application will be reviewed at the June Board of Directors meeting and awards will be presented annually.
3. Each year, at the beginning of EMS Week, the class of selected nominees will be formally inducted into the Johnston County EMS Hall of Fame.

Inductees to the Hall of Fame will receive the following.

Deceased Inductees:

• A Plaque presented to the Inductees Family
• A Plaque with a picture to be posted on the Hall of Fame wall

Living Inductees:

• A Plaque presented to recipient
• A Plaque with a picture to be posted on the Hall of Fame wall
• A Johnston County EMS Hall of Fame lapel pin.