Jack Holliday, Jr.—2022 Outstanding Alumni
As we honor our Distinguished Adult Ed Alumni this evening, let me begin by taking a moment to share a brief history of our Paramedic Program.
In early 1980, the North Central Ohio Emergency Medical Services Training Council, recognized the critical need for advanced pre-hospital emergency medical care, in the greater seven county area. They approached Marion General Hospital for help in developing an educational program that could supply Advanced EMT’s and Paramedics to fulfill that need. A Paramedic Advisory Committee was organized in May of 1981. It was their task to guide the formation of a paramedic education program and to oversee the application for state accreditation of the program through the Ohio Board of Regents. In November 1981, that accreditation was granted.
The first Paramedic class at Marion General Hospital began on October 5, 1982, and ran through to the second week of June, 1983. Twenty students started the program and twenty students completed the program. Then on July 1, 1984 the Hospital signed an agreement with Tri-Rivers Joint Vocational School that consolidated the resources of both facilities in order to take advantage of the educational and financial benefits of such a merger. The school became known as Tri-Rivers/Marion General Hospital School of Paramedicine.
One of the Distinguished Alumni that we are honoring this evening was a member of the very first class that was held after that consolidation. That alumni is Jack Holliday Jr.
Who is Jack Holliday Jr? He’s the son of Jack Holliday Sr., a distinguished public servant himself. Jack Sr. served eighteen years as Chief of Marion Township Fire Department and he was a member of that very 1st Paramedic Advisory Committee back in 1981. His son, Jack Holliday Jr. developed his interest in firefighting and public safety services at a very early age. Jack Jr., graduated from Marion Harding High School on May 31, 1981 – he enlisted in the Ohio National Guard and was in basic training on July 1st, just a few weeks later. Later that year he completed his firefighting training at the U.S. Air Force Fire Fighting School – Chanute Air Force Base in Champaign County, Illinois.
In 1982 Jack completed his EMT training back in Marion, Ohio. In 1983 he completed the Ohio Fire Academy. Then in 1984-1985, Jack was a member of the first Tri-Rivers/Marion General Hospital Paramedic School class.
I found it interesting that right at the time that Jack was completing his studies in our Paramedic program, it was reported in The Marion Star under an article entitled; “Tri-Rivers is home to good things” that “A review team for the Ohio Board of Regents concluded that the Tri-Rivers / Marion General Hospital School of Paramedicine is one of the best classroom and clinical programs in the state”.
In 1987 Jack began his career at Marion Township Fire Department. He became a Fire EMS Instructor in 1989. In 1993 he was promoted to Lieutenant at Marion Township. Jack is also a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program – at the National Fire Academy in Maryland, which he completed in 2000. And in 2016, Jack Holliday Jr. retired from Marion Township Fire Department.
Accepting the award on Jack’s behalf were Richard George and Dr. Emeline Kelly.
He then started back at Tri-Rivers as a Paramedic instructor and today Jack is our Lead Paramedic Instructor for the program. At Tri-Rivers our programs provide excellent training, combined with excellent students, to produce graduates who go on to complete distinguished service for our community.
Like many of our graduates, Jack is a true advocate of lifelong learning, He continues to train and advance his knowledge and skills by taking online courses through Columbia Southern University. Jack is finishing up work towards completing a Public Safety Services Bachelor’s Degree. Since his return to Tri-Rivers, Jack has been instrumental in strengthening our community / school support. He’s a very strong supporter of Tri-Rivers Career Center, our School of Paramedicine and the programs and training that we provide.
Unfortunately, Jack could not be here this evening – he just had his hip replaced on March 2nd, and he really did hope to be able to be here. I spoke with Jack yesterday and he shared that he is still with staples and stitches, and living in the power assist chair. (He is hoping to have those staples and stitches removed later this week.) His ultimate goal is to be back to school by April 1st for the Prep Class for the largest single Paramedic class that we have had in several years, 18 Paramedic students.
Jack’s father passed away in 2013, but I believe that somewhere up above, he’s smiling down as his son is being recognized as a one of our Tri-Rivers Adult Ed, Distinguished Alumni, this evening.
Introduction by Richard George
