After 35 years working for Davidson County Emergency Services, it is probably safe to say that director Larry James has driven on almost every road, street and highway in the county more than once, and more likely in the dead of night or through treacherous weather.
But after dedicating a majority of his life to helping people in distress or in need of medical service during some extremely stressful situations, James is retiring on Jan. 31 to tend to his own mental well-being and a change in his environment.
James, 59, was born in Winston-Salem, but grew up in Davidson County. He said it was during his senior year at North Davidson High School, that he first began his career in emergency response by joining the Gumtree Volunteer Fire Department as a junior firefighter. Shortly after graduation, he took his emergency medical technician training and began running medical calls with the fire department.