Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Retiring next April after 28 years with the Palouse Emergency Medical Services, Gloria Hodges will be this year’s Palouse Days grand marshal.
She has served as EMS coordinator for the past 15 years.
Gloria found out about the honor from Bev Pearce, Palouse Chamber of Commerce president.
“I told her no at first,” said Hodges. “Bev is kind of hard to say no to. She’s one of my EMS personnel too.”
Pearce said that Hodges was a natural choice.
“As an eight-year volunteer on the EMS, she has been somebody I’ve looked up to,” she said. “Her dedication to the community itself has taught me a lot.”
Hodges trained to be an EMT in an 80-hour class in Pullman, after being asked by former Palouse Fire Chief George Arland to take part. Arland formerly served as head of Palouse’s EMS, and when he turned in his resignation, he encouraged Hodges to take over the assignment.
“Our unit here is fantastic,” said Hodges. “Very dedicated, we have low turnover. I don’t think there’s a unit in Whitman County that’s any better than ours.”
Aside from working with the Palouse EMS, Hodges is a retired buyer for the WSU veterinary school where she was employed for 19 years.
This won’t be the first time she has ridden in the honor spot for Palouse Days. Her husband, Byron, a retired Palouse city superintendent, was formerly honored as a grand marshal.
The Hodges have two children and a foster son, Eldon, Sheryl (Smith) and Chris Overfelt, along with 10 grandchildren.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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