EMS pioneer Marilyn Crook dies
By Gerald Ensley


Marilyn Crook, a Tallahassee paramedic who became the first female director of an ambulance service in the nation, has died.

Crook, 78, died Monday in Raleigh, N.C., from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative neurological condition known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Crook had spent most of her life in Tallahassee before moving to Raleigh two years ago.


In 1972, Crook became one of the first 18 emergency medical technicians — and the only female EMT — hired by Tallahassee Memorial Hospital when it assumed control of the ambulance service. Until then, local funeral homes provided ambulance service.

Crook was believed to be the first paid, female EMT in the state. Three years later, TMH promoted her to director of the ambulance service — making her the first female emergency-medical-services director in the nation. She remained in that role until her retirement in 1987.

She oversaw TMH's growth to 60 EMTs and paramedics and 10 state-of-the-art ambulances. She also helped found the TMH Life Flight helicopter service in 1982.

TMH operated the ambulance service until December 2003, when Leon County government assumed control.

"Marilyn was a pioneer — and just a wonderful person," said Bobby Bailey, a retired director of the TMH's ambulance service who joined the department in 1975 under Crook. "She was very caring, very committed to the job we did. She did so many wonderful things for so many people and touched so many lives."

For more on this story, read Saturday's Tallahassee Democrat.