What comes from the heart? Does compassion, caring and emotions simply result from previous experiences in our lives learned through pain or gratification? When a newborn smiles up at you does your heart want to leap from your chest? When a friend or a relative expires do you feel an aching there? Of course. Does the concern and dedication to the health and wellbeing of your neighbor through your actions, come from the heart? How could the emotion of love not pass first through your heart?

“The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy” —Meryl Streep.

On November 6, 1948 one of Chillicothe’s native sons was born to Gerald and Lois Hedden in Peoria. At that moment in time they had no idea what profound impact Ron would have on so many lives in Chillicothe of family and friends in years to come.

Ron attended Pearce Grade School and Chillicothe High School with his sister Brenda. After graduation in 1966, he worked at Caterpillar as a mechanical technician and was a millwright apprentice. After 35 years, he retired in 2001.

In 1968, the earth moved and he found his true love, best friend, and partner Paula—a strong wife, mother, and wonderful lady. They raised six children—Lisa, Tracy, Karen, Will, Nick and Wendy—in their 46 years together. She sadly passed away in 2014.

In 1964 a handful of volunteer firefighters, decided to form an ambulance service based at the North Chillicothe Firehouse. They recognized a vital need to provide fast response, first aid, and quick transport to Peoria for stricken and injured citizens—at no cost to them—and for the next 49 years this all volunteer organization did provide excellent care to a multitude of residents, as a nonprofit entity. 

Early on, Fire Chief Joe Kensington and Earl Fulton were leaders of the group and they used a station wagon and resuscitator from the house and made it work. Around 1980 Ron Hedden guided the constantly changing operations and old and new personnel for the next 34 years. The whole Hedden family and many private citizens helped over the years, as either certified EMTs, EMTIs, and some Paramedics. Donations, contributions, and fund raisers from the town people, supported the service and Ron’s steady hand, through those years, was crucial to their success. The service grew into a family of dedicated first responders with one goal in mind—to ease the pain and suffering of those who need help.

All heroes are not volunteers, but all volunteers are heroes. In our town, if you sacrifice your time and give willingly your service to those in need, wanting no compensation, there no doubt that you, too, are a hero. 

Webster’s says: A hero is a man of exceptional quality. For all he has done and accomplished, in his town by steering good people, to do good deeds for others in need. That definition fits Ron Hedden, a man of exceptional quality. Ron put his heart totally into the betterment and longevity of the first and best first responder emergency rescue service that Chillicothe has ever known. For all of those who have worn the colors of maroon and white you can surely be proud of your contributions then in a time when people helped people and there was no need to ask for help because help was always staring you in the face.

In 2020, Ron married Kathy Adams Jarman and they live happily in Galena Knolls.

“I do not ask the wounded person how he feels, I myself become the wounded person.” —Walt Whitman.

There have been and always will be Hometown Heroes in Chillicothe of different walks, occupations, and stature and now a truly deserved Ron William Hedden joins those ranks.             

Thank you Ron. 

We will never forget 33.