2026 Lifetime Contribution Award: T.J. Isgrig

Good evening everyone!!!

Tonight, we gather to honor something truly extraordinary. Not a single achievement. Not a single moment. But a lifetime shapedby courage, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to others.

The Lifetime Contribution Award honors a lifetime of outstanding dedication and profound impact. It is reserved for someone whose work quietly shaped our community, whose influence is felt not only in accomplishments, but in lives forever changed.

For more than three decades, this year’s recipient answered the call when others needed help the most. In moments of urgency, he brought skill. In moments of fear, he brought calm. And in moments when families needed reassurance, he brought compassion grounded in experience and care.

For over thirty years, St. Francois County relied on this individual through the St. Francois County Ambulance District. From city streets to rural back roads, from ordinary days to the most difficult nights, he showed up. Not for recognition, but because service was his calling.

His career in emergency medical services is defined by professionalism, empathy, and steadiness under pressure. Families may not remember every detail of an emergency, but they remember how they felt. They remember the calm voice, the confident presence, and the sense that someone truly cared in one of their most vulnerable moments.

But his impact did not stop at the patient’s side. 

Throughout his career, this individual stepped into leadership roles that helped shape the future of emergency medical services in our region. As EMS Supervisor and later Lead EMS Supervisor, he did far more than manage operations. He mentored. He guided. He led by example. 

Many EMTs and paramedics working today learned not only how to do their jobs from him, but how to carry themselves with integrity, humility, and compassion. He inspired future generations of emergency responders to rise to a higher standard and to always remember that behind every call is a human life that matters.

Leadership like this rarely seeks attention. It shows up early, stays late, and puts others first. It builds trust quietly and earns respect through consistency and character.

Beyond his professional service, this individual has also been deeply involved in community organizations that strengthened the safety and spirit of St. Francois County. His willingness to give his time, experience, and voice reflected a deep care for the well being of this region and the people who call it home.

A lifetime of service like this is never carried alone. Behind the long hours, late nights, and countless calls was a family who understood the demands of this work and supported it with patience, pride, and love.

TJ is a proud father to Kyle, and his wife Hayley, and to Breanna, and her husband Jason. Family has always been at the center of who he is, grounding him and giving purpose to the work he does for others.

He is also a devoted and proud grandfather. TJ’s grandchildren Maci, Sadie, Kegan, and Korbin bring him immense joy and perspective at every stage of life, from the wonder of early childhood to the growth and promise of the teenage years. They have been a constant source of motivation, reminding him why caring for community, safety, and people truly matters.

And now, it is our honor to formally recognize a lifetime of service that has shaped lives, strengthened systems, and left an enduring mark on St. Francois County.

In recognition of a lifetime commitment to courage, leadership, and community care, demonstrated through over thirty years of service with the St. Francois County Ambulance District; exemplary leadership as EMS Supervisor and Lead EMS Supervisor; and dedicated involvement in organizations that strengthened the spirit and safety of our region, we proudly present the Lifetime Contribution Award to Terry “TJ” Isgrig!!!