Norman and Delores Dean Memorial EMT Scholarship

In 1962, if you were injured or sick in Eastern Wake County, the only “rescue squad” was a hearse with a first aid bag. One had to call the funeral home and ask for someone to come and transport the injured person to the hospital.

Norman Dean knew there had to be a better way. After a particularly bad wreck nearby, Norman took action. The next day, he and the Chief of Police went door-to-door in Wendell to raise money to start the first rescue squad in Eastern Wake County – the all-volunteer Wendell Rescue Squad. For several years, Wendell Rescue served all of Eastern Wake County: Zebulon, Rolesville, Knightdale, and everything in between.

Dolores Dean joined the squad in the early 1970s, facing significant pushback from male community members. During the era of the feminist movement, women were often relegated to domestic roles. Dolores was a trailblazer – defying societal expectations to become one of the state’s first EMTs. Scrappy and bold, she ventured into situations previously dominated by men.

Norman and Delores believed in service above all and paving the way for others to follow. They committed their lives to making Eastern Wake a safer place to live. This scholarship was established by Norman and Dolores’ family in memory of their dedication and service to others. The recipients are students whose goals are the same – serving their community through a career in Emergency Medical Service.