40 years ago: County ambulance service established

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for March 21, 1973:

  • A resolution was passed today by the Douglas County Commission which established a county ambulance service. A contract was formalized with the new service operator, Leonard Barber, who with the county was to officially take over the service this coming week. Under the terms of the agreement, the county had purchased all of the equipment, including two ambulances, from Larry Marcum, current owner of the Citizens Ambulance, at a cost of $8,000. Commission chair Walter Cragan said today that the county would need to overhaul the ambulances before they could be placed into service. The City of Lawrence was to continue to provide housing for the vehicles at 1839 Massachusetts Street.
  • Workers this week were putting the finishing touches on the Judith Harris Murphy courtyard at Murphy Hall on the Kansas University campus. The area, which was funded principally by former KU Chancellor Franklin Murphy in honor of his wife, was to feature a fountain, benches, walkways, plantings, and grassy areas.