Randy Murry ‘14, a graduate of Coahoma’s inaugural Associate Degree Paramedic class, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive an American Ambulance Association Star of Life Award. The four-day Stars of Life event honored exactly 125 EMS professionals from across the nation, including two from Thailand.
Murry, a Lula, Miss., native who is proud to have brought home a revered medal and plaque, has served as the operations manager for Pafford Medical Services in Coahoma County, Miss., since 2017 and has worked in the Emergency Medical Services profession for 11 years. At age 18, he began developing an interest in saving lives as a volunteer for the Coahoma County Fire Department, a role that laid the foundation for him to help others and serve his community. “It was there I found my true calling,” Murry recalls.
He enrolled into the Coahoma Community College Emergency Medical Technician short-term program a year later. Murry credits CCC for going beyond the taught curriculum and investing in him.
“CCC not only prepared me to be a top-notch clinician but also a dynamic leader,” said Murry. “We had instructors who truly cared about the student’s success.”
A trained paramedic serving a population of 24,000, he delights in ensuring individuals receive quality pre-hospital health care and impacting lives.
“Every day is different, which is why I enjoy it so much,” Murry adds.
For him, his responsibility of overseeing daily EMS operations involves leading by example. Murry has earned several pre-hospital instructor certifications. He also serves as a part-time firefighter/captain and public information officer for the Coahoma County Fire Department.