The most amazing person I have known died last year in his 80s: Art McDole. He hired me as a 9-1-1 dispatcher in 1977, which was the beginning of my career in Public Safety Communications. He was a pioneer in Emergency Communications, bringing county-wide 9-1-1 and consolidated dispatching of law enforcement, fire services and EMS to the Central California Coast in Monterey County. There is a room named for him at the APCO HQ in florida, and APCO has an award for pioneering work named for him. From Art, I learned so much. I've transitioned from Baisic 9-1-1 to Enhanced 9-1-1 services, from handwritten radio logs to state-of-the-art Computer Aided Dispatch systems, worked through major disasters such as the Pebble Beach Fire in the mid-80s, the Loma Prieta Earthquake in '89, participated in the planning and implementation of the Pope's visit and sermon at Laguna Seca... Oh, just some amazing events. Art was a gentleman with a wickedly wry sense of humor. I left Monterey County after he retired with 41 hears of service, but he still worked for APCO as a Frequency Coordinator for Public Safety for many years. We saw each other at meetings, or conferences, or other functions - he always acknowledged me with warmth.
Art was a smart man who relished in learning new technology. He was known in other countries as being a Father of 9-1-1 systems well-respected and honored all over the world. I am proud to cave been one of his "kids.". The fact that he was proud of me as I progressed in my career, even when I changed agencies, says so much about him. Google his name some time.
Art was a smart man who relished in learning new technology. He was known in other countries as being a Father of 9-1-1 systems well-respected and honored all over the world. I am proud to cave been one of his "kids.". The fact that he was proud of me as I progressed in my career, even when I changed agencies, says so much about him. Google his name some time.