Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881, and by 1917, La Plata County had a functioning chapter. With a stated mission to “… prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers ...,” the charitable organization is part of the world’s largest volunteer network found in nearly 200 countries. Here, volunteer Curley Whiteman shows off the recently purchased four-wheel-drive vehicle used to assist local emergency personnel in 1977. Whiteman came to Durango in 1951 and worked at the Vanadium Corp. of America. Later, he worked as a carpenter, mobile home transporter and baker. Possibly his greatest contribution to his community was as a member of the Red Cross Emergency Response Team. He died in 1982 at age 73. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org (Catalog Number: 21.19.4 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)