Honorees

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Year Honored
2004
Honoree
Shawn L Skelly
Agency
Southern Oklahoma Amb Ser
Agency City
Ardmore
Agency State
OK
Last Call
10/6/02
Cause of Death
Struck at Scene
Biography
"We'll be giving them paramedic funerals, with their coffins in the back of our ambulances, taking them from the churches to the cemeteries. If they could tell us, while on the long final ride, they would say they were just doing their jobs. Nevertheless, in many ways the profession of rescue can be very dangerous. This one surely did turn out that way", said a friend.<br /> <br /> Shawn L Skelly, 28, of Ardmore, Oklahoma lost his life on October 6, 2002 when he was hit by another vehicle. The SUV skidded out of control after hydroplaning during a driving rainstorm, and slammed into the back of the ambulance. His partner that was assisting, along with their patient, was also killed.<br /> <br /> Mr. Skelly was employed by Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service as a paramedic, and served there as a shift supervisor. He was a five-year veteran of the ambulance service and was an EVOC instructor. He was chosen Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service employee of the Year in 2000.<br /> <br /> "This has been real hard for all of us here," Jones, a squad member said, "These guys, this group is like family. We all feel that we have lost two of our brothers."<br /> <br /> Honored 2004