A Sioux City woman ended a 31-year career as a 9-1-1 dispatcher last week– a career highlighted by a plane crash with nearly 300 people on board. Louise Keleher says she’ll remember many calls, but none more vividly than the emergency summon she answered 28 years ago.
The crash of United Flight 232 in Sioux City on July 19, 1989 killed 111 people. Another 185 survived. The plane’s crew and emergency responders were praised for their actions in the incident that most thought would be unsurvivable. Keleher landed the dispatcher’s job after answering a newspaper ad.
While Keleher’s calm demeanor has helped many people in need over the years, the job is often stressful and isn’t ideal for just anyone.
Keleher’s son is a lieutenant with Sioux City Fire Rescue and has been dispatched on calls by his mother. A reception for Keleher was held at Sioux City Police and Fire headquarters.
