For more than four decades — be it bad weather, a terrible fire, a traffic accident, or anything of the like — Bill Wood had to be ready for any emergency in south western Kentucky.
That all changed on New Year’s Eve, when he decided not to renew his paramedics license, and instead opted to retire — walking away from Trigg County EMS for good.
A 1976 graduate of Trigg County High School, he started this path in May 1984, and never once took his talents anywhere else — at one point even serving as fire chief for the City of Cadiz late in his career.
Wood saw changes not only in the EMS accommodations over the years — increases in pay, improved ambulances, better recreation and housing supports, and more — but changes in the job itself, and the required demands of emergent and non-emergent care.
Those early days, though, remain fresh in his mind.
For Wood, and thousands of other paramedics across the country, EMS was “home away from home” — meaning the group becomes a second family.
Other than former Cadiz City Councilman Frankie Phillips, Wood is believed to be the longest-ever tenured in the position, and he was part of the Cadiz Fire Department when he decided to pivot and attend EMT school. Yet, he stayed with the Cadiz Fire Department until 2016, along the way training guys like Tommy Futrell, Kerry Fowler and Josh Holley, the current fire chief.
While there have been bright, positive moments along the way, the job unfortunately brings with it a sense of tragedy and heartache.
Among the most difficult, he was with some of the first units to respond to the 1993 Seven Friends incident in Trigg County, an automobile accident claiming the lives of seven beloved high schoolers.
Despite the word “retirement” and what it means, Wood won’t be taking it too easy for the next couple of years at least.
In 2023, he started winding down as a part-time paramedic, but rather than rest, he only redoubled his efforts with best friend Daniel Becker and Becker Built LLC in Crofton — where the two have spent years crafting two very specific machines: special-made industrial sewing appliances for companies like Cintas, and Porsches.
One such car on order, Wood added, has very special ties to the modern rock-and-roll scene, as Three Days Grace lead guitarist Barry Stock is deeply in tune with their workmanship.
Wood’s wife, Bobbie, also opted to retire Wednesday morning, having worked for both Trigg County Hospital and most recently Deaconess Health Systems out of Evansville, Indiana.
