Texas EMS volunteer retires after 40 years of service

By Gabriella Canales
Victoria Advocate

SHINER, Texas — Lawrence Kurtz' eyes watered as he walked into his retirement surprise party at the Lavaca County Emergency Medical Services.

"There are times you have to do what you have to do," Kurtz said, explaining he will spend a lot of his retirement with his family.

Kurtz, 79, is retiring after working almost 40 years with the Lavaca County Rescue Service.

"I feel obligated to help people I see who need help," he said.

Kurtz's retirement party Dec. 5 was organized by Colorado County EMS director Michael Furrh, Lavaca County EMS Director Debbie Fishbeck and employees and Lavaca County emergency care attendant Chris Roznovsky.

About 25 friends and co-workers enjoyed cake as they presented Kurtz with a card and a certificate for his years of service.

He will receive a plaque at a later commissioners court meeting.

Motivation to work with the EMS came after the sheriff at the time asked Kurtz whether he'd like to take classes and volunteer because help was in short supply.

Kurtz designed the Lavaca County EMS's building and its location next to the fire station. The new location opened in the early '80s.

His most memorable moment is when he delivered a baby in December 1985, Kurtz said.

Another event he will never forget is when a man's leg and foot were touching his right ear after a tractor accident. Kurtz rolled him over and straightened his leg.

"There are so many (patient) runs and transfers that we know won't make it, but we do it and get them to the hospital where they can go without pain," he said.

One service Kurtz said he concentrated on was being with the family of a victim.

"We cry with them," he said. "That's something that's always been near and dear to my heart. Stay with the family as long as you can."

Being with his family helped him with the stress of the job.

"The family deals with it, too, not just the person," he said. "That has kept me strong."

After retiring, Kurtz said, he will volunteer with the EMS when he can.

Furrh, a friend and host, shared a few words at the gathering.

"Lawrence Kurtz is almost a Shiner institution," Furrh said. "He's a very integral part of emergency services in Lavaca County."

He said Kurtz has been a family friend since Furrh was 2 years old because his father was a police officer and emergency care attendant.

Kurtz met Furrh when he was a junior in high school taking an EMT class.

Furrh described him as a good, kind-hearted person.

"You always aspire to be like people like that," he said.

The pair ran ambulance calls together, and Furrh recalled the long drives and talks they would have at 2:30 a.m. about family and current events whenever they transported patients to San Antonio and Austin.

"Some of those conversation are priceless," he said. "Those are the good moments, when it felt like we were the only ones awake in the world."

Furrh said he was motivated to organize a gathering because, "EMS and public safety in general is a thankless job, and to stick it out for 40 years says something."

Overall, Kurtz said he has enjoyed his years of service.

"I feel like I've helped some of the people in Shiner and even a couple of generations," he said. "Helping other people is something that somebody else always does, but it's good when you do it."

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