Founders of two local ambulance services honored with Stars of Life award

Contact: Beth Fredrickson Bottom Line Marketing & Public Relations (414) 270-3000, ext. 224 [email protected]

MENASHA, Wis. – Gold Cross Ambulance Service has nominated its founder, Jim Welch, and Barry Tomaras, founder of Waupaca Area Ambulance, now merged with Gold Cross Ambulance Service, for the distinguished Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin’s (PAAW) Stars of Life award.

“This is a great way for us to honor and recognize two distinguished leaders for their dedication and service to the profession of emergency medical services,” said Jack Hill, executive director of Gold Cross Ambulance Service.
The men will be honored at the Wisconsin Stars of Life recognition program Sept. 18, at the Tundra Lodge in Green Bay, Wis.
Jim Welch is being recognized for founding Gold Cross Ambulance Service after purchasing Lindy’s Ambulance in 1967, then changing the name to Gold Cross in 1969. “One man, one dream is how we know Jim,” said Hill. “He wanted emergency medical service to be on the cutting edge in the Fox Valley, and he saw the vision for paramedic-level care. He still cares about us and stops in periodically to find out how we’re doing.”

Welch retired from the business in 1990. He lives in Little Chute and stays active with volunteer work at St. Joe’s Food Pantry. He and his wife spend their winters in Mississippi visiting with old acquaintances.
Waupaca Area Ambulance first began as Holly Ambulance. Barry Tomaras purchased Holly Ambulance Company in the mid-1970s and later changed the name to Waupaca Area Ambulance. In May 2013, Waupaca Area Ambulance merged with Gold Cross Ambulance. Tomaras, a resident of Waupaca, remains affiliated with Gold Cross Ambulance. He also serves as the Waupaca County coroner, a position he has held since then-Gov. Tommy Thompson appointed him in 1994.
“After dedicating 30 years of his life to Waupaca Area Ambulance, it was a bittersweet moment for Barry to hand the reins over to us,” said Mark Fredrickson, director of operations at Gold Cross. “With Barry’s support, however, we’ve successfully combined both companies into a larger, stronger organization.”

The PAAW’s Stars of Life program is patterned after the American Ambulance Association’s annual program. This is the eighth year the award program has been held. Both the PAAW and the AAA work with state and federal legislators to develop policy related to the emergency medical service industry. The Stars of Life act as ambassadors for the PAAW and the AAA, working in their communities to provide consistent messages about the need for state legislation assisting ambulance providers. Star recipients will receive a proclamation from the governor’s office as well as a chance to spend a day in the capitol visiting their local legislators.

Gold Cross Ambulance provides paramedic-level care for 911 medical emergencies, and non-emergency transport services to more than 260,000 people in 1,200 square miles of portions of Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet and Waupaca counties, responding to more than 15,000 calls each year. It also brings EMS expertise to the region through its management services, making it the only not-for-profit, regional ambulance service in the state. Gold Cross Ambulance is jointly owned by Affinity Health System and ThedaCare.
To learn more about Gold Cross Ambulance: visit www.goldcross.org