Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Hot Springs/Garland County Ambulance Service

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 2024

1. Hot Springs/Garland County Ambulance Service Marker

Inscription.
On this site, on July 1st, 1973, The Hot Springs/Garland County Ambulance Service began operations as the FIRST Municipally Operated Ambulance Service in the State of Arkansas.

From a converted ice cream 'drive in’, Director Steven Nawojczyk brought EMS out of the 'dark ages' of funeral home run ambulances, to what would become a professional, State Honored EMS Service. Through his guidance, The HS/GC Ambulance Service and its staff were recipients of numerous State and Regional Awards, including EMS Service of the Year and EMTs of the Year during yearly competitions.

Director Nawojczyk calls these EMS professionals his 'EMS Cowboys' due to their pioneering spirit and the new 'trails' they paved for future EMTs and Paramedics.

Over the years, many of these 'Cowboys' continued in the EMS field, serving the people of Hot Springs and Garland County. A few are still out there, if you look hard enough.

The HS/GC Ambulance Service ceased operations in 1987, after being purchased by St. Joseph's Hospital.

Erected 2024 by The City of Hot Springs, and Garland County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is July 1, 1973.

Location. 34° 30.427′

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N, 93° 3.171′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is on Broadway Street just south of Market Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is located beside the sidewalk on the west side of Broadway Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 214 Broadway Street, Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cy Young (within shouting distance of this marker); Order of Railway Conductors & Brakemen (within shouting distance of this marker); Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen (within shouting distance of this marker); Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (within shouting distance of this marker); United Transportation Union (within shouting distance of this marker); Switchmen's Union of North America (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Springs Intracity Transit National Historic Register (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of Spanish American War Veterans (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.

Also see . . .
1. City, county to honor former Hot Springs/Garland County Ambulance Service.

(By James Leigh, The Sentinel-Record, 8/17/2024) Excerpt: On August 31, the city and county will reveal
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 2024

2. Hot Springs/Garland County Ambulance Service Marker
Looking west from Broadway Street.
and dedicate a monument plaque near the former ambulance service's location, 214 Broadway St.
"It was the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the service, and we just felt like we needed to do something to have a little celebration and kind of remember it for posterity," Bobby King, deputy director of the Garland County Department of Emergency Management, said. "The hospitals paid for the monument, and the city said, 'We'll be glad to put it up for you. You just need to let us know where,'" he said. "Well, I knew I wanted it on that piece of property right there, but I didn't know how, because I knew it was private property." After speaking with the property management company and the city, it was agreed to place the monument along the city's right of way near the former ambulance service's driveway.

(Submitted on January 3, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. ‘EMS Cowboys’: City, county unveil ambulance service memorial plaque.

(By James Leigh, The Sentinel-Record, 9/4/2024) Excerpt: County Judge Darryl Mahoney said honoring the employees of the Hot Springs/Garland County Ambulance Service "was a long time coming" during Saturday's ceremony to unveil a memorial plaque near the location of the facility that served Hot Springs and
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 2024

3. Hot Springs/Garland County Ambulance Service Marker
Looking east across Broadway Street; the City of Hot Springs Transit Complex is in the background. Both sides of this marker have the same inscription.
the county for nearly 14 years. Some of the remaining members of the "EMS Cowboys" of the Hot Springs/Garland County Ambulance Service were present for the unveiling.

(Submitted on January 3, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 253 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 3, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.