BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — For 250 years, America has been built on stories that connect us. Former Bakersfield Mayor, Harvey Hall formed Hall Ambulance in 1971.

His legacy of care and compassion continues to live on in Kern County.

In this week’s Amazing America, we remember Harvey Hall and impact he had on the Bakersfield community.

“‘Unity in our community’ was his, it wasn’t a slogan, but he truly lived by that,” said Hall Ambulance Public Information Officer, Mark Corum. “He was really a mayor for all the people. He wanted to immerse himself in, helping disadvantaged communities or people he was involved with.”

In 1960, a young Harvey Hall worked as an orderly at Mercy Hospital here in Bakersfield. After being dared by one of his friends working as an ambulance attendant to go on an ambulance ride along, Hall did.

After going on a ride along in an ambulance and enjoying it, he was offered a job the next day and worked in every aspect of the ambulance service for the next 10 years. Since 1971, Hall Ambulance has served Bakersfield and almost all of Kern County.

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“He started formulating what would be his ideal ambulance company,” explained Corum. “So, when he did that, he built it on the premise of care, compassion, community. And he really stood by that.”

Corum has been a Hall Ambulance Affiliate for 30 years, says that Hall set forth on the first day of operation, saying that there will be an ambulance attendant ride in the back with that patient, something not commonly done. Bakersfield became one of the first communities in California to have that in 1975.

“He wanted to make sure that care they provided, his EMS profession, is provided with the very best, exemplary patient care,” said Corum. “The compassion sometimes: holding a patient’s hand and giving them general reassurance that, ‘everything’s going to be okay,’ is what the patient needs. That compassionate care, the interaction with somebody else that says, ‘I’m here for you. I’m taking care of you.”

Harvey Hall would later serve as the 25th mayor of Bakersfield and died in 2018. His wife, Mrs. Lavonne C. Hall, serves as Chairman of the Board and CAO, carrying on Harvey Hall’s high standards of care.

“She is a rock,” said Corum. “She really guides the organization and continues to provide the spirit. She’s in touch. She worked, herself, as an EMT and a paramedic at Hall Ambulance. Boots on the ground, she walked the walk and talked the talk and so she can relate to what EMS, crews and dispatchers do.”

Hall Ambulance emergency services expanded to the city of Arvin on March 1, 1975. Last March, Mrs. Hall celebrated 50 years of Hall Ambulance service in the city.

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“50 years ago, when my husband Harvey came out and put in a full-time station,” said Chairman of the Board and CAO Hall Ambulance, Lavonne C. Hall. “24 hours a day, and he was committed to having service out here where there was a need. We’re very happy to still be here 50 years later and serving this community.”

Former Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall’s legacy lives throughout Kern County. Hall Ambulance continues to implement Halls’ Care, Compassion, Community into his work, his team, and the community.

“He donated his salary that he received as mayor and awarded the Mayor Harvey L. Hall scholarship,” said Corum. “With that, he funded 297 scholarships for local students. That just kind of tells you about the kind of gentleman that he was.”