In 1982, the ambulance district and Warren County voters made a critical decision to base district headquarters in Warrenton and build a community-centered service.Since that time, there has been no one as involved in its continued growth as retired director Ralph Hellebusch.Hellebusch, the man who has been the face of the Warren County Ambulance District for 36 years, recently retired and will be honored Wednesday, Aug. 22, from 3-6 p.m. at the Decades of Love Banquet Center, located at the Shoppes of Warrenton.The public is invited to his retirement celebration.Born and raised between Peers and Treloar, Hellebusch attended St. Francis Borgia High School, then joined the U.S. Army National Guard in 1971. Throughout his military service, he was involved in training young men in “soldier skills” and excelled in logistics and “running the unit on a day-to-day basis.”During Operation Desert Storm, Hellebusch was sent to Manheim, Germany, and then moved on to Belgium. The military found him to be slightly colorblind, so his job with the MPs changed. They sent him to cooking school. His main job overseas was to organize the mess hall, critical in the eyes of all military men.“We were headed for war,” he said. “It was in the back of your mind all the time.”Luckily, his stint overseas ended before his unit deployed to the front line. He laughed as he remembered that he and a few buddies almost missed their flight home when schedules changed as they were touring Europe.Stateside, Hellebusch had a variety of jobs before he joined the ambulance district, including working at KFC, Frick’s Meat Market and the Bank of Dutzow. His father’s interest in the American Red Cross blood drives and a friend, Betty Ruth, with the same passion, influenced the next step in his life.“My dad was very dedicated to the Red Cross blood drives,” said Hellebusch. “Betty Ruth encouraged me to take an EMT class so I could teach for the Red Cross, and I needed to be associated with the ambulance district. She told me if I was old enough to graduate, I was old enough to give blood.”He worked it out with the bank as he began responding as a volunteer EMT.Hellebusch said 1982 was the pivotal time for the district and he was on board from the start. Later Hellebusch became certified as a paramedic.Gary Miller, district board member and Warrenton alderman, said the board of directors felt Hellebusch had the perfect background to help develop the district.“If we had hired an architect to design a perfect person for this job, he could not have designed a man better than Ralph Hellebusch.”Hellebusch remembers his years serving the community. He said he was somewhat prepared for emergency calls to homes of people because he would have a little time to prepare on the way.“The hard ones were motor vehicle accidents. You don’t know until you get there who it’s going to be and how bad,” he said. “You just suck it up. Most of us have a sick sense of humor, which maintains your sanity.”Hellebusch admittedly had a soft spot for his nursing home patients, saying he got to know them as they progressed through their illnesses.“I often had to talk to them about living wills and entering a new phase of life,” he said. “I always enjoyed talking to my patients.”Miller said he felt Hellebusch was a very “caring, compassionate person.” He said what made the biggest impression on him were the times Hellebusch responded to a tough emergency call, returned to the base, got in his own vehicle and headed over to comfort family members on his own time, often at two or three o’clock in the morning.Hellebusch knew retirement was drawing closer. New protocols concerning drug overdoses, drug practices like pharming and the toll of responding to calls around the clock was getting challenging. He also served on numerous committees to help emergency management practices continue to improve for the county.During Hellebusch’s time at the district, calls grew from 600 a year to more than 4,400. The district started with two vehicles and one small base and grew to seven ambulances and four bases.Hellebusch is proud of his involvement in the Explorer program, offering mentorship to students hoping to join the EMS team. He said Warren County is the first to offer law enforcement, fire and EMS Explorer programs.Today he helps out at Martin Funeral Home and continues his pheresis (platelet) donations. For the past five years Hellebusch has donated platelets, sitting for 2 1/2 hours every two weeks. Before that he gave blood five times a year, following his dad’s passion.Tim Flake, who was Hellebusch’s assistant for many years, has taken over the position of CEO for the district. Flake said Hellebusch “and a handful of others and the board of directors built it from the start.”“His day would start early and end late,” said Flake. “Warren County is lucky to have people like Ralph Hellebusch. His hometown spirit is off the chart. I believe you will never find a more dedicated person.”Hellebusch said he feels he is leaving the district in good hands with Flake, new COO Mike Escew and Human Resource Director Darren Link.Although the board encouraged him to take his two weeks of paid vacation, Miller said Hellebusch responded that “he would go nuts after a couple of days” and preferred to get back to work.He plans to continue to offer his skills as a consultant and will also serve his community just like always. He is married to wife Kristina (Tina) and has two grown daughters and six grandchildren.

Ralph Hellebusch, Warrenton, has retired from the Warren County Ambulance District. A celebration will be held in his honor Wednesday, Aug. 22, from 3-6 p.m. at the Decades of Love Banquet Center, 1000 Outlet Mall in Warrenton. Hellebusch has served the district for 36 years, helping it to grow from its infancy to the thriving district of today. 

Record Photo/Cindy Gladden