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Glen, retiring, honored at Ellinwood Chamber Coffee
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Ellinwood Mayor Irlan Fullbright presents a card of thanks to Debbie Glen, retiring director of Ellinwoods EMS service at a Chamber of Commerce coffee Friday morning. - photo by VERONICA COONS, Great Bend Tribune

Ellinwood EMS Awards

2007 - 2008 Civic Star Award
Awarded for partnership between Ellinwood High School, the City of Ellinwood and Barton County Community College for the High School EMT Program

2006 Leo R. Schwartz Award
Emergency Medical Service of the Year award presented by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians

2005 Basic Life Support Service of the Year Award
Award presented by the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association

2000 Basic Life Support Service of the Year Award
Award presented by the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association

Ellinwood EMS has the distinction of being the only service to win the Kansas BLS Service of the Year Award twice.
--From the City of Ellinwood website

The City of Ellinwood sponsored a Chamber Coffee Friday morning in honor of the retirement of EMS Director Debbie Glen.  Ellinwood Mayor Irlan Fullbright gave a run-down of Glen’s accomplishments and the awards the city’s Fire and EMS service had won over her 33-year career.  
“I do not consider myself their boss,” Glen said, indicating the EMS and fire personnel present at the coffee.  “I consider myself their team leader, and you’re only as good as your team.  They are awesome.”
According to the City of Ellinwood website,the service is staffed by one full time director and 17 volunteers.   Covering a response district of 110 square miles, including the city and surrounding rural areas, the EMS Departments responds to 275 to 300 calls per year. They do this with two ambulances and a rescue truck, and carry an extensive inventory of state of the art equipment, much acquired thanks to grants Glen has had a direct part in securing.  
Though she’s retiring, Glen can’t imagine staying away for long, she said.  Citing KPERS regulations which require her to not work for the same organization for at least 60 days, she said she looks forward to helping at the office a few days a week starting in the fall.  
Glen has served under six Ellinwood administrations, and including the current one with Bud Newberry who came to Ellinwood in April.