Loeper Awarded R.E. Marshall U.P. Emergency Medical Services Award

MARQUETTE, MI - Saturday, October 10, 2009 - James Loeper of Bessemer was honored with one of Michigan’s highest EMS awards on October 3. He was given the “Robert E. Marshall Upper Peninsula Emergency Medical Services” award at the annual UP-EMS Conference in Marquette.

The award is presented annually to recognize the contributions of people who have greatly contributed to the advancement of emergency medical services. It’s named after Bob Marshall of Sault Ste Marie who was an EMS pioneer in the 1960’s.

Jim Loeper was given this year’s award to acknowledge his many achievements over the past two decades. The presentation noted his involvements with Alert and Beacon Ambulance Services, the Gogebic County Medical Control Authority, UP-EMS Board of Directors, Grandview Hospital Board of Directors, and the Michigan 9-1-1 Committee. He has also taught nearly twenty EMT, Paramedic and EMS Instructor classes.

The award was presented at the Saturday Keynote Session. Over four hundred and fifty EMS personnel gave Loeper a long, standing ovation.

Jim Loeper is the Gogebic County Emergency Manager and 9-1-1 Manager, a former member of both the Ironwood Township and Ironwood Volunteer Fire Departments and is active in many local community activities. He joins the late Bob Raisanen and his wife Karen of Marenisco as Gogebic County “Bob Marshall EMS Award” recipients. The Raisanens’ were honored in 2003.

The annual UP-EMS Conference is Michigan’s largest educational and leadership program. It was attended by nearly 600 EMS personnel from throughout Michigan and Northern Wisconsin.

Jim Loeper of Bessemer in the western Upper Peninsula truly represents Bob Marshall’s spirit of EMS dedication and community service.

Jim became a Michigan Paramedic in 1986 and an Instructor Coordinator in 1992. Since then, he has contributed in numerous ways: Paramedic for Alert EMS, Manager of Beacon Ambulance, Member of the Gogebic County Medical Control Authority, the Grandview Hospital Board of Directors, and the UP-EMS Board of Directors, the Upper Peninsula Representative on the Michigan 9-1-1 Committee, and the elected Drain Commissioner of Gogebic County.

Jim has taught nearly twenty EMT, Paramedic and Instructor Coordinator courses and regularly teaches at the UP-EMS Conference. He has overcome numerous adversities with pure determination, humor, compassion and integrity.

As Bob Marshall would say: Jim Loeper is GOOD MAN and represents the best of EMS.