Carbondale Reporter

Bill Heyde of Marion, Ill., started his time at the city’s fire department approximately three decades ago; now, he’s on his way to retirement.

“You'll always be a pillar of our fire department,” Marion Fire Department Chief Tim Barnett said to Heyde during a city meeting. “I promise you, we will take good care of the place you have built.”

The city council of Marion already found Heyde’s replacement.

The Marion Fire Department recognized the retirement of Heyde in front of the city council. Heyde joined the fire department full-time in 1991, though he was a part of the department beforehand, and served 31 years as a full-time firefighter. He was highly dedicated to his community and his men and was honored by the fire chief.

Benton News reported Heyde received his COVID-19 vaccine once the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said fire responders had a vaccination priority.

“We are very fortunate to be included the way we have,” Heyde said to Benton News. "Heartland Regional has done a really good job with reaching out to us and helping keep people safe. We're really appreciative of that.”

Heyde not only served his community for 31 years, but he also responded to at least 6300 calls as a firefighter, tested the hydrants and water mains in the city thousands of times, and was always thinking of how to keep his guys safe. He also took a crew to New York in the wake of 9/11 and spent a week helping out in any way he could.

Carbondale Times reported the Marion city council appointed Heyde as the assistant chief in September 2020.

In the wake of his retirement, the council voted to appoint Jesse Burford to assistant chief, Chad Schmit to captain, and Anthony Statler to lieutenant. All three had previously served in the fire department. The department also hired Peyton Barnett to fill in as the new firefighter in the wake of all the appointments.