Throughout her decades-long career, Chief Lucille Maes with the Angleton Area Emergency Medical Corps (AAEMC) has seen a variety of changes in the industry and the world. One thing, however, has remained constant—her commitment to the communities she serves.
After dedicating so much of her life to what she does now, it’s crazy to think that this was a career that almost never began.
In the 1980s, a young Maes was just starting to stretch her wings and find her way in the world. She landed a well-paying job in outside sales in the area, and before 1990 she was making six figures.
On a whim, she joined a friend who was doing training to become an emergency medical technician (EMT).
While the friend inevitably decided that career path wasn’t for her, and thus didn’t finish the training, the experience awakened something in Maes.
“I was instantly hooked,” she said, noting that shortly after the training she left her well-paying job to be a volunteer in the field.
In fact, it was more than a handful of years before she secured a paying gig with the team that got her $32,000 a year and partially covered insurance for her truck.
While it might not seem like a fair trade to some, Maes knew in her heart she wasn’t just making a career change—she was answering a calling.
“This profession definitely chose me,” she explains with a smile.
A volunteer with the organization for several years, it didn’t take long for her to find her place in the leadership realm within AAEMC.
“For me, AAEMC has always been home,” she said. “And as far as I’m concerned, we have the best crew around.”
Fellowship in the field
Currently in her third decade with the organization, Maes has her fair share of stories from the field that range from harrowing to heroic—and everything in between.
“In this job, you have the opportunity to help someone on their worst day and really make a difference,” she said. “It is not always about the medicine or treatments. Sometimes you can make it better by listening, offering a warm smile or holding a person’s hand. Every call, shift and day are different, so you have to be on your game all the time.”
Maes extends this same attention and care to the nearly 27 paid and 23 volunteer members of AAEMC she has the pleasure of working alongside each day.
She’s quick to call out that many are medics with area agencies too, including Amanda Gisler who in addition to her role with AAEMC works with Friendswood EMS.
“I love working here,” Gisler says. It has such a family feel to it. Chief really has our back.”
Maes also works hard to “have the backs” of other area first responders, including the fire department in the community.
“We show up to their calls, and they can send us away if they need to, but we’re there for the firemen and women,” she said.
Additionally throughout her career, Maes has worked hard to maintain a great working relationship with members of the UTMB Health community. Tonya Visor, senior communications specialist with UTMB Health, has served the community alongside Maes for decades and has nothing but positive things to say about her.
“Lucille is just wonderful and is a joy to work with,” said Visor. “She knows we’re all here for the greater good, and she emanates that spirit throughout everything she does.”
Tireless advocacy
For Maes, a teamwork-first process is key for effectively caring for the community. A tireless advocate for the EMS profession as a whole and a firm believer in cultivating camaraderie across agencies and entities, Maes has been intentional about instilling that mindset in her crews over the years.
Not one to just talk the talk, she’s walked the walk using this collaborative approach her whole career, being deliberate about serving on a variety of advisory and EMS advocacy boards, committees and organizations across the state.
A few of the groups lucky enough to be on the receiving end of Maes’s time, energy and commitment include the Texas Line of Duty Death (LODD) Task Force, the Southeast Texas Regional Trauma Advisory Council, and the Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC).
Her efforts on this front were recognized in late 2023 during the annual Texas EMS conference when she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from GETAC—a well-earned nod to all she’s done in that group during her tenure.
Like the true leader she is, Maes never alludes to any of these accolades, and instead she takes every opportunity to shine the light back on her colleagues and the wonderful work they’re doing.
“I’m not anything without them [her crew],” she said.
The end of an era
On the heels of receiving the honor from GETAC, Maes, who just celebrated 35 years of service with AAEMC, has announced that she’ll be closing this chapter of her life in June when she retires.
While she’ll continue to support the organization remotely as the new chief Lloyd Ayers, who is currently serving as AAEMC’s Deputy Chief, gets accustomed to his new role, there’s no doubt it’s the end of an era for the region. The official change in leadership will take effect on June 22.
“Ayers will do great in this role,” said Maes. “The community will continue to be well taken care of.”
With a history of working together on and off for nearly two decades, Ayers and Maes have a connection that’s palpable as the two roam about the grounds of AAEMC’s home base.
As Ayers looks ahead to what’s to come as the new chief, there’s a mix of emotions ranging from excitement and hope to bittersweet reflection.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to grow everything she’s started,” he says.
A resident in the area since his junior high school days, Ayers is passionate about serving the region and doing it well.
“He knows the community and knows what works and what needs to be changed,” says Maes, adding that Ayers has always listened and learned quickly – two qualities that will serve him well in the new role.
Thinking back on all the living she’s squeezed into this season of her life, Maes keeps it concise using one line to capture the full spectrum of emotions that comes with this big milestone and transition.
“It’s been challenging and rewarding, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”