Representatives with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department during the Jan. 22 City Council meeting presented to the family of Gene Huckstep a plaque honoring his leadership, vision, and selfless service that "planted the seeds from which today's multi-jurisdictional rescue capabilities have grown."
Former Presiding County Commissioner Huckstep demonstrated his dedication to the citizens of Cape Girardeau County providing the first rescue extrication service in the area beginning in the 1960s. During his 22 years in providing this service, he personally answered nearly 2,000 calls.
He continued to provide this service until 1986, when he assisted in arranging an agreement with the City of Cape Girardeau, City of Jackson, and Cape Girardeau County, in which the City of Cape Girardeau Fire Department would provide rescue extrication services throughout the County. In that same year, Huckstep also provided leadership in obtaining and equipping the City’s first rescue truck - a converted Bunny Bread truck. This rescue truck provided county-wide extrication service for 10 years.
In 1994 Huckstep again assisted efforts to replace the City’s original rescue truck with a new truck, known as Rescue 4. The new truck was dedicated and placed into service on March 19, 1996.
This is the original plaque that adorned the side of Rescue 4 while it responded to thousands of rescue calls throughout Cape Girardeau County, until being retired this past year.