By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@Salisburypost
The county’s new EMS Station in Salisbury will honor a man who spent decades providing emergency services to county residents.
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to name the station for Charles Luther Ridenhour, who was a member of the Rowan Rescue squad and a part-time EMS employee when he died in 2001 at the age of 72.
Ridenhour’s family, including, his wife, Lenora, wiped tears as commissioners voted to approve the dedication.
A ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Nov. 23 at the station located at the corner of North Shaver and East Council streets.
“We’re not dedicating any junk to Mr. Ridenhour,” Arnold Chamberlain said, adding, “It’s really something.”
Lenora Ridenhour agreed and went on to add, “I was a very fortunate lady.”
Chamberlain recalled that Ridenhour was one of the busiest people he ever knew. “He was a real man, and he could get it done.”
Ridenhour, who operated Ridenhour Grocery Store and Ridenhour Pump and Electric in the Ellis community, was a charter member of the Ellis Cross Country Volunteer Fire Department.
He won the county’s top honor as Volunteer Firefighter of the Year in 1994.
Frank Thomason, emergency services director, read off a list of Ridenhour’s service to the county.
He pursued his EMT-Paramedic credentials but became ill before he could successfully pass the test.
Thomason said Ridenhour was one of the oldest, if not the oldest, person to take the paramedic test.
“Charles was a very respectable man, citizen and co-worker. Many people called him by his given name of Charles,” Thomason said. “A few of us called him ‘Pawpaw,’ and to this day, there are still people who refer to him as Mr. Ridenhour. I think this shows the level of respect that was given to Charles.”
A veteran of the Korean War, Ridenhour served with the 82nd Airborne Division. He retired a first sergeant with the N.C. National Guard after 28 years of service in 1989.
In other matters, the commissioners:
– Approved a proclamation honoring veterans and declaring Nov. 11 as Veterans Day in Rowan County.
– Appointed Tina Wyatt to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.