Opening of Bids - Spec S - One or More 2018 or Newer Emergency Medical Vehicle - Horton Emergency Vehicle - Part 2

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HORTON EMERGENCY VEHICLES HISTORY Horton Emergency Vehicles was incorporated in the State of Ohio in October of 1968. The company originally went by the name of 'The Horton Company'. The founders were Carl and Barbara (Babs) Horton. Carl was the in-house engineer, designer and shop foreman in the early days. Babs ran the front office. Carl's original idea in founding the company was to build a high quality Emergency Transport unit. Carl had worked previously in a number of vocations and had served in the Navy. One of Carl's early jobs was working at a funeral home in Michigan. He understood that the ambulances of the day offered cramped working spaces which made patient care quite difficult. So with the idea of building a better mouse trap and his experience in working in the mouse trap Carl set out to design a more user friendly ambulance. So in 1968, after working hard to find funding to start up a company Carl and Babs found success. The original plant was located on the Southwest side of Columbus on Stimmel Road. The plant consisted of 2 buildings totaling around 5,000 sq.ft. of production space. The sales office was located in a trailer outside. Carl's original idea was to increase the working space in the patient area of the ambulance. The existing Cadillac and Travel -All style of ambulance offered sparse working space. Equipment placement was extremely cramped. His original drawings were based on the use of a Ford Econoline van. The Ford van offered a great deal more space than the other chassis of choice. The working quarters were less cramped. Items such as oxygen cylinders could be more easily loaded. There was even space for many of the new supplies that were being required. The quality of giving birth to a baby was dramatically improved. In 1969 Carl's ideas were soon transformed into the completion of a new unit for the Prairie Township Fire Department. The unit was sold on the basis of its improved working conditions, Carl's ability to sell and most importantly his word that the product would include the highest quality standards possible. The final foundation of Carl's future success was that he would stand completely behind the product if there were issues. Around the time that Horton was founded, the great majority of ambulances were based at local funeral homes. Primary patient care consisted of 'Load and Go'. Carl did not believe in this process and many communities were awakening to the fact that better patient care should be provided. Carl's timing was impeccable. Many local Fire Departments were entering into patient transport. The idea of a more utilitarian truck that offered better patient care vs. the traditional Cadillac that offered a great ride was