Hoosier Lottery Beneficiary, Local Police & Firefighters’ Pensions

Pam was working as a server at a restaurant when she heard the Jeffersonville, Indiana fire department was going to start hiring women. She knew immediately that she wanted to try out for the position. She spent six months working out and getting fit and then took the test. Pam was the second woman hired in Jeffersonville and later became the very first woman Captain.  

“I loved it, it was a whole new career for me,” she said. “It was exciting and nerve-racking at first, but I hung in there for 29 years and always did my very best.”  

The fire department quickly became a second family to Pam. “We spent 24 hours a day, three days a week together at the firehouse,” she said. “We all knew each other from school, growing up in the same community, so we all kind of reunited as adults working together. It was quite a privilege.”  

She described her career as a lifestyle and her co-workers as family. “We’d cook together and break bread together,” she said. “We spent holidays together and just kind of watched over each other.”  

Pam remembers having basketball tournaments with other local fire departments and volunteering with Crusade for Children.  

She recalled how her dad used to help in the community and set a great example for her to follow. He was a baseball coach and would frequently pick up kids who didn’t have a ride to the ballpark. “Maybe I inherited some of that ‘helping people’ gene from him,” she said.

Pam attributes her success to her tough work ethic and many kind mentors. “I had a lot of great leaders looking out for me. They took me under their wing,” she said. “When I started it was like learning a whole different language, with all the different pieces of equipment and processes and apparatuses. I was sure to pay that kindness forward myself, especially when I became Captain.”  

One of Pam’s most significant life moments happened recently, when she was asked to be a pallbearer at the funeral of Mac Kircher, who was Captain when she was first hired as a firefighter. “He was a great mentor to me, and it was a great honor,” she said.  

“When it comes to being a firefighter, I always say I have no regrets,” Pam said. “It felt good to be able to help people in the community when they needed it most.”  

Pam retired in May 2023 after 29 years with the department. “I’m thankful I got out of there healthy and retired when I did. I consider myself one of the lucky ones,” she said. “On my last day of work, they invited my whole family to a big dinner. Even some important politicians showed up for me. That was quite a privilege.”  

Now that Pam’s retired, she enjoys traveling with her husband and family, going places like California, Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam.  

She also drives a tour bus, taking groups of people all over the country. “It’s like I get paid to travel with people,” she said. “We’ve gone to places like the Kentucky Derby, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and so many other fun places.”

Pam has lived in Southern Indiana her entire life and loves to refer to it as “the sunny side of Louisville.” She recalled traveling around the state as a child visiting family members and still enjoys hanging out with her family now. “We have big family reunions. We get together on Friday nights. We’re a very close-knit family,” she said.

Pam enjoys playing the lottery and giving Scratch-offs as holiday gifts, especially to her 89-year-old mom. “That’s all she wants for Christmas, she always asks for lottery tickets!”

The Hoosier Lottery would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Pam and all the other fire department personnel who make a huge difference in the lives of so many, each and every day.