Some sixty years ago, Fire Chief Hugh R. Worley saw the need for a rescue squad in Bristol. He contacted interested citizens, civic organizations and businesses for their support. Later, Mr. Julian Wise, founder of the first volunteer rescue squad in the United States, was contacted for his assistance in organizing a rescue squad in Bristol.

On August 7, 1947, under Chief Worley's direction, an organizational meeting was held at the Bristol Virginia Fire Department. Roanoke Life Saving Crew Captain Julian Wise acted as Captain for the infant Bristol rescue squad. At the close of this first meeting, the Bristol Life Saving Crew was in operation with Dr. Harry Hicks as its first captain.

The crew grew steadily during the next few months. The first truck was purchased in November 1947, at a cost of $1,704.85. The membership included Hugh Worley, Roy Edwards, J. A. McMillian, Harry Hicks, Carl Trainham, Victor Coty, Sam Davis, W. A. Buckles, W.M. Williams, Reid Berger, J.W. Stephenson, W. B. Hamilton and Claude Honaker.

A few years later an abandoned service station became the Crew's first home away from the Firehall. The building was vacated in 1955 and the Crew returned to the Firehall. With an increasing equipment inventory and need for training facilities, the membership began working toward a new headquarters.

Our Tenth Anniversary saw the Crew preparing to move again, this time to a newly constructed facility on Euclid Avenue. In 1957, the Crew had two rescue trucks and a station wagon to house in the new building.

As the crew moved forward into the Sixties, new vehicles were added along with new members to answer an increasing demand for rescue and first aid services in the community. The Crew had also begun a tradition of leadership in the states of Virginia and Tennessee in promoting the rescue squad movement. The trophy case filled as our desires for professionalism and excellence became more important in our service to the community.

The seventies brought still more challenges for the volunteers of the Bristol Life Saving Crew. The local funeral homes discontinued ambulance services leaving the twin cities without sufficient emergency transportation. The crew answers this need by acquiring two Chevrolet Custom ambulances. Emergency transportation of seriously ill or injured patients then became a new service provided by the crew.

Our twenty-fifty anniversary, in 1972, was marked by the dedication of our present home on Euclid Avenue. The new building housed three ambulances and two rescue trucks. Expanded meeting and training facilities were also provided within the new structure.