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George Steckert, Paramedic 28-3 was a graduate of the Medicprogram at St. Joseph’s hospital in Lancaster. His fellow class-mates included “Butch” Potter who would go on to becomeChief at River Rescue in Harrisburg, and Harry Meals whowould later lead Medic 28. Steckert was an EMT driver atYork Hospital under then Senior Paramedic Meals, and cameto Gettysburg as an original member of the medic staff in1984.

During his tenure, the word most often used to describeSteckert’s leadership was “excellent.” He was widely respectedas Coordinator, and distinguished himself as a dedicated andprofessional provider.

In 1994 Gettysburg Hospital’s new President Steve Rennerannounced that Steckert would fill the newly created positionas “Director” of the Emergency Department. Among his manyaccomplishments, Steckert became known as an expert onEmergency Preparedness.

Today, Steckert is an administrator with White RoseAmbulance in York, PA and continues to work as a consultantto EMS organizations.

In this 1984 photo Steckert wears the origi-nal uniform shirt which was light blue withdark shoulder and pocket patches. Steckertsaid “I thought it made me look like a dentist.”

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1993 Suburban

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Original 1984 Suburban

MEDIC 28 VEHICLES EVOLVE OVER TWENTY YEARS

1988 Suburban

1990 Suburban

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The new 1996 Suburban (center) before its light package and lettering wereadded. The 1990 is far left, and the 1993 far right.

2003 Ford 350

1999 Ford 250

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This page: Gettysburg Times cover story on Medic28’s 10th Anniversary, published May 16, 1994.

Opposite page: Pictured is Paramedic LynnMalfaire in 1994, and Times feature inter-view with Paramedic Hurshel Shank. In2004 Malfaire works with WaynesboroHospital Medic 2000, and Shank is in histwentieth year with Medic 28.

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WALT KELCHPARAMEDIC COORDINATOR 1994-2001

As “next in line,” Walt Kelch assumed the position ofParamedic Coordinator following George Steckert’spromotion to ED Director.

A strong advocate of community outreach, Kelchencouraged his Medics to become involved in activitiesoutside of the Emergency Room. The “TommyTrauma” Safety Program, which he initiated in AdamsCounty, taught the concept of “call 911” to thousandsof school children.

With a grant from the Gettysburg HospitalFoundation, Paramedic Kelch with Holly Cookerly, RNand others, spearheaded what came to be known as“Operation Heartbeat.” Through his leadership,Automated External Defibrillators or AED’s, wereeventually placed into every police and Park Servicevehicle in Adams County. Considered controversial atthe time, in 2004 AED’s are commonplace in schools,airports, and in most public places.

Today Walt is an instructor of Public Safety with theHarrisburg Area Community College, and continues asa per diem paramedic with Medic 28.

Walt Kelch 28-26

In this early photo, then Alpha AmbulanceCorps lieutenant Kelch presents a certificate ofappreciation to Littlestown School BoardPresident Ronald Harrison. At the time over500 EMT’s from Adams County had beentrained in classrooms provided by the school dis-trict.

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From Kelch’s personal files: Statistics for “TommyTrauma” program. Note 5,000 elementary studentshad seen the program by 1994.

Students from Gettysburg’s Lincoln Elementary School line up to view theMedic Unit. In photo above, Kelch demonstrates use of the Physio LP10 car-diac monitor.

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DR. GREG CODORIMEDICAL DIRECTOR 2004

A Gettysburg borough police officer and volunteerEMT with the Gettysburg Fire Department, GregCodori was attending classes at Mt. St. Mary’sCollege in Emmitsburg when he and his partnerHurshel Shank completed and passed the stateParamedic certification exam. That evening inSeptember 1984 Codori and Shank took their firstcall.

In June of 1988, at the urging of Drs. Maitland andSteinour, Codori applied and was accepted into thefirst year class of the Philadelphia College ofOsteopathic Medicine. As father of two children,Codori continued to work weekends as a per diemparamedic, and in 1992 joined the staff of theHospital’s Emergency Room.

As Medic 28’s current Medical Director, Dr.Codori has the respect of the ALS staff as “some-one who has walked in their shoes.” In 2004Codori continues to volunteer with the GettysburgFire Department and is rated as Firefighter 2. Heand his wife Tammy have four children. His sonNick is also a volunteer with the local fire depart-ment.

In this 1991 Gettysburg Times file photo, Codori ispictured as the first George L. Morningstar MedicalExtern. The Morningstar Memorial Fund was estab-lished to help attract young physicians to AdamsCounty, and was designed to give second and thirdyear medical students “hands on experience” with thelocal medical community. Codori was the first ofmany to benefit from the fund established by friendsand colleagues of Dr. Morningstar.

Paramedic Codori demonstrates defibrillation paddlesin 1984 file photo.

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Paramedic Codori attempts to defend his trip sheet nar-rative during a 1985 ALS audit meeting. Below a letterof resignation written to George Steckert. Note the clos-ing sentence “I will probably regret writing this letter.”

July 1990 Gettysburg Timesphoto, County Coroner GregCodori investigates the shootingdeath of an unknown male in theparking lot of the CheckerboardInn in York Springs.

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PARAMEDICS TAYLOR & KIME RESEARCH, THEN DESIGN;HOSPITAL APPROVES RADICAL CHANGE FOR 1999Utility Body on Ford chassis replaces Suburban

By 1998 as the time approachedto replace the 1993 Suburban, themedics felt that their truck hadbecome cluttered, and that theirgear was increasingly difficult toaccess. Paramedics Sam Taylorand Jeff Kime worked for over ayear to solve the problem, andeventually recommended a “utilitybody” concept.

A Ford F250 truck was purchasedfrom Adams County Motors inGettysburg, and the truck bed wasremoved. The remaining chassiswas taken to Swab WagonCompany in Elizabethville, PAwhere a one piece molded fiber-glass box was constructed, thenattached to the chassis. A lightpackage from Moul’s inAbbottstown was added and asleek new medic unit was placedinto service on July 2, 1999.

VEHICLESince 1984 the type of “squad” vehicle used by Medic 28 hasbeen a Chevrolet Suburban. Throughout the years this type ofvehicle has served Medic 28 very well. However, due to thePennsylvania Department of Health’s strict requirements foradvanced life support units on the required equipment anadvanced life support unit must carry, and the ChevroletSuburban becoming smaller in cargo space, the Suburban hasbecome small and cluttered.The need for a vehicle that allows more cargo space but remainsabout the same size of the suburban has risen not only for Medic28, but for many other advanced life support units. This type ofvehicle not only has more cargo space, but allows staff membersto have better accessibility to equipment.The vehicle that would take the place of the ChevroletSuburban would be a “utility body” style type vehicle. This typeof vehicle is approximately the same cost as the ChevroletSuburban but offers many advantages.The “utility body” style vehicle offers more cargo space. It alsooffers the same amount of passenger space as the Suburban.This vehicle also can be re-chassised. This means keeping thesame body, just adding a new chassis. This would be a savings ofapproximately $15,000-$20,000 when the time came to replacethis vehicle.On the following page is a cost comparison of replacing the 1993Chevrolet Suburban with another Suburban versus the UtilityBody. Since 1984, the cost to replace the existing Suburban hasincreased $10,000 each time. The cost of the vehicles are givento us at dealer’s cost. The suburban cost is from Zentz Chevroletand the chassis we looked at for the “utility body” is a Ford fromAdams County Motors. The light package is also given to us at adiscount from Moul Enterprises in Abbottstown which if gottenfrom the place that did the conversion would cost twice theamount shown.

Above: The cover page of Kime and Taylor’s report to the Hospital Board ofDirectors, recommending the change to a Ford chassis. Photo left: 1999 Fordafter truck bed has been removed and before placement of the cargo box.

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Original sticker from 1999 withMSRP of $36,000 and invoicefrom Swab for utility box for$30,500.

Ford chassis prior to ship-ping to Swab.

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Utility box with heatingand air conditioningventilation ductworkclearly visible.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS FROM SWAB WAGON CO.

One piece molded fiberglassbox before mounding to Fordchassis.

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Interior drivers side withradio and light consolevisible.

Fully stocked cargo bays, noteautomatic electronic doorlocks.

1999 Ford fully equipped.

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Special announcement of July 2 placing the 1999 Ford into service.

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MEDIC 28’S 2003 FORD F-350

Placed into service at a cost of $75,000 the 2003 features an extended four door passenger caballowing for the comfortable rear seating of paramedic students and other observers. This unit isimmediately recognized by its distinctive dual Federal “Q” sirens, and “Maitland blue” runninglights.

Member of the hospital Auxiliary present a check to Hospital President Steve Renner atdedication ceremonies of the present day 2003 medic unit. Pictured in front of the historicDobbin House are (from left) Cindy Ford, Joanne Sheller, Rose Tripi, Judy Wagner, SueKuhn, Pam Wagner, Kay Orndorff, Steve Renner and Paramedics Sam Taylor, JuneClawson, Ron Sterchak, 20 year veteran Hurshel Shank, and Tom Rooney.

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2004 MEDICAL COMMANDERS

Dr. Greg Codori Dr. William Steinour

Dr. Timothy Holland Dr. John Dufendach

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FULL TIME 2004 STAFF

Robert Hower - Paramedic CoordinatorTom Rooney

Tina Anderson Ken Basarab

Mark Shaeffer

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MEDIC 28 2004 ROSTER

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many thanks to all those who contributed photos and

memorabilia to this project including George Steckert,

Rob Baughman, Fred Bader, and Mrs. Laura Meals.

Thanks also to Judy Alder and Cindy Gilbert of the

Public Relations and Communications office for their

patient expertise, and to John Eline for his efforts to pro-

duce the “Make a Difference” anniversary video.

Special thanks to Nancy Richardson for faithfully record-

ing the history of the Emergency Room and of Medic

28, and for sharing her scrapbooks with us all.

Tom Rooney NREMT-P

Medic 28 Archivist Nancy Richardson

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