Ballard Turnbull - An EMS Legend: Now We Must Pick Up His Torch
There's a big void in Minnesota EMS these days. It's a void that will take a long time to fill, if ever. Ballard Turnbull, who worked tirelessly to improve the Tower Area Ambulance Service and for that matter, northeastern Minnesota EMS, passed away August 8 after a courageous battle with liver cancer. He was only 52 years old, but left quite a mark in our profession.
I am proud to say that Ballard was a friend of mine. I spent many hours at his kitchen table drinking coffee and talking about fire departments and ambulance services. As our professions changed, we kind of drifted in other directions, but I tried to stay in touch with him as best I could. His dedication to EMS and the fire/rescue services was something I always admired. Frankly, I don't know how he ever did it. He had a full-time job, a family and countless commitments. Yet, he built the Tower Area Ambulance Service into one of the finest EMS organizations around. Patient care was his Number One commitment and he wouldn't accept second rate treatment. He was tough, demanding and sometimes, a pain in the rear. But, his heart and soul were in EMS. It truly was one of the loves of his life.
All of us are going to miss Ballard. His infectious laugh and his sense of humor are memories that we will all cherish. His countless hours of dedication to EMS instruction and certification have paid off in countless ways. Today, there are dozens of people who are alive and well and leading productive lives because of his commitment to patient care. His beloved Tower Area Ambulance Service continues to move forward because of his leadership. His successor will have some mighty big shoes to fill, but Ballard made that path a little easier to follow. He laid the foundation for EMS in this region. Our challenge is to continue to build upon what he established. Whether we are instructing an EMS course or certifying future medical responders, we have all benefited from Ballard's insight and dedication. We can't waiver in this commitment to patient care because Ballard would never stand for it, not for an instant. Thank you Ballard for your hard work for the betterment of EMS. You will be missed, but in your honor and memory, we will continue to your work to improve EMS in this region. We won't let you down, you can count on that!