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Merry could not be reached for comment.

Through his leadership, CCEMS constructed eight of nine EMS stations throughout the county and consistently earned perfect scores from the state for compliance with the latest medical practices, training, stations and ambulances and administration requirements, according to a proclamation from the Cabell County Commission last year.

Cabell County Commissioner John Mandt Jr. called Merry the cornerstone of Cabell County EMS.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHe had a really phenomenal career,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Mandt said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHe planned and built eight EMS buildings that were needed and expanded CCEMS to better serve Cabell County.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Mandt thanked Merry for his long career with the county and said one of MerryÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s standout accomplishments was his ability to pinpoint where the county needed new EMS stations strategically to effectively serve as many people in the county and municipalities.

In November 2023, CCEMS became the first county in West Virginia to participate in a pre-hospital ground transport blood administration program in partnership with St. MaryÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Medical Center. Merry managed CCEMS and Cabell County through the COVID-19 pandemic. He also contributed to discussions on first responder protection laws after several employees were held at gunpoint, oversaw the Quick Response Team (QRT) and collaborated with the National Guard and FEMA on flood relief efforts, according to the commission.

In 1974, Cabell County created the SheriffÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Technical Officers Patrol (STOP). The service had one ambulance and 24 EMTs. The service worked under the Cabell County SheriffÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Department. Later, when curriculum was set for advanced-level care providers, Cabell County had several members become the first West Virginia-certified paramedics, according to the CCEMS website. STOP eventually evolved into Cabell County Emergency Medical Services, or CCEMS.

CCEMS operated one station in Ona, which also served as headquarters for the department. Huntington had its own EMS service, which was operated as part of the Huntington Fire Department. The two services combined in 1986 under the direction of the Cabell County Commission creating Cabell County EMS.

The Cabell County Commission will appoint the new director; however, Mandt said the commission is not in a rush to find a new leader nor is it bound to a timeline. The commission recently appointed Veronica Swope as CCEMSÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ new assistant director. Mandt said Thursday she is doing a good job.