Image Loading...
LIFE MEMBERS AND IN MEMORIAM

Life Members are members who have served for a minimum of 20 years in the Hoke County Rescue Squad and have officially retired from active service. Life Member status shall be bestowed upon any member who has to retire due to a line of duty injury regardless of the number of active years served.  Life Member status shall be granted to any person who retires due to non-duty related causes AND has attained 10 years of active service.  Life Member status shall be granted to any active member who serves 15 years with the Hoke County Rescue Squad and retires due to additional service with another eligible Fire, Rescue, or EMS Agency AND is eligible for retirement payments through the State Fireman's and Rescue Workers Pension Fund.

This is also a memorial to those members of the Rescue Squad who died while still an active member.

LIFE MEMBERS

Marion L. (Jim) Wade

February 16, 1962-February 16, 1992

Jim was one of the founding members of the Rescue Squad and retired on the Rescue Squad's thirtieth anniversary.  If you will look at the picture on our Squad History page, that is Jim on the right.  This picture was taken circa 1962.  Jim served as our Treasurer for most of his tenure.

 

Angela H. (Angie) Hill

January 24, 1990-October 10, 2013

Angie served the Hoke County Rescue Squad for over 23 years.  She served several terms as Secretary.  

 

Harvey C. (Chris) Jacobsen

June 10, 2008-December 1, 2016

Chris Jacobsen served the Hoke County Rescue Squad as Vice-Commander for Training until his medical retirement.  Chris Jacobsen began his career in Public Safety following in his father's footsteps as a volunteer firefighter in Cumberland County in the late 1970's.

He became an EMT in the early 1980's and worked with Cumberland County Ambulance Service. In the mid 1980's he began working with Hoke County EMS and later FirstHealth of the Carolinas EMS as an EMT-Intermediate and later as a Paramedic.

Injury force him to end his field career and he became a Telecommunicator with Hoke County Emergency Communications in 2003 until his retirement in 2016.

Chris served as a Clinical Coordinator with the EMS Division of Bladen Community College.

Chris was granted Life Member status by the Rescue Squad upon his retirement.

 

Tammi Gessler

February 27, 2001-December 31, 2022

Tammi Gessler served the Rescue Squad over 21 years.  She also served as a member of West Hoke Fire Department.  Tammi served as a Public Safety Tecommunicator with Hoke County Emergency Communications over 18 years until her retirement in 2022.

 

William Gibson

September 13, 1989-December 31, 2022

William served the Rescue Squad over 32 years.  William served many years as Executive Vice Commander.  William is a 33 year verteran of the NC Department of Corrections and serves at the NC Department of Correction as COmmander of the State Honor Guard.

LIFE MEMBERS/IN MEMORIAM

James R. (Dick) McNeill

January 26, 1981-June 30, 2002

Dick was the Thursday Team Leader for many years.  Dick also served as Executive Vice Commander. Dick was a police officer and served as Chief of Police for The City of Raeford.  Dick died of natural causes in 2005.

 

James R. (Bobby) Strother

October 13, 1992-June 1, 2010

Bobby served as Vice Commander for Rescue 2 from its inception in December of 1992 until his death on June 1, 2010.  Bobby was a 32 year veteran of the Pinehill Fire Department and has served as Chief.  He had served as President of the Hoke County Fire and Rescue Associaton and was currently serving as Vice-President. Bobby was an active member and Deacon of the Ashley Heights Baptist Church.  Bobby is survived by his wife Norma who serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Rescue Squad.

 

Bobby G. Allen

January 26, 1981-January 4, 2016

Bobby served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War.  Bobby served 30+ years with Hillcrest Fire Department, also serving several terms as Chief. Bobby served as a team leader for almost all of his 30 1/2 year tenure and is a past Commander of the Rescue Squad.  

IN MEMORIAM

Clifford T. (Cliff) Stauffer, Jr.

Cliff served from 1988-2002.  Cliff served as Wednesday Team Leader from 1993-2002.  Cliff also served as Commander from 1996 until 1998.  Cliff was a veteran of the United States Army serving as a Military Policeman (MP) and was a veteran of the 1991 Gulf War.  Cliff then served as a Police Officer for the City of Raeford rising to the rank of Sergeant.  Cliff died as a result of an automobile accident in 2002.

Image Loading...