Retiring Wichita Fire Chief Larry Garcia was honored at Tuesday’s City council meeting, with a key to the city from Mayor Carl Brewer who praised Garcia for serving 50 years as a City employee, including 20 as Fire Chief. The recognition marked the first time that a City employee received a key to the city.
The recognition ceremony also included the presentation of a Fire Chief’s helmet, a framed newspaper story announcing Garcia’s retirement and a 13-minute tribute video. Beginning Wednesday, the video will broadcast on City Channel 7 and www.wichita.gov.
“This tribute really belongs to the men and women of the Wichita Fire Department,” Garcia said. Of his 50 years as a city employee, he added: “It just happened. It wasn’t planned. It just happened.”
Garcia, the longest-serving City employee, joined the Fire Department as a recruit in June 1957. He served as a Fire Fighter until 1964 before being promoted to a Fire Alarm Dispatcher (1964-1979), a Special Assistant to the City Manager (1976-1979), Chief Training Officer (1979-1987) and Fire Chief (1987-2007). As Fire Chief, he oversaw 415 Fire staffers and managed a $33 million annual budget. His tenure was marked by an increase in staffing as the city’s boundaries expanded, additional fire stations and equipment and a greater emphasis on racial, ethnic and gender diversity in the department. For outstanding professional and community service, he has been awarded the Excellence in Public Service Award.
Chief Garcia and his wife Carolyn have two adult children, Gina and Roberto, who is a retired Wichita Firefighter. They also have four grandchildren. Chief Garcia is succeeded by Ron Blackwell, a veteran of the Wichita Fire Department who recently served as chief for two departments in the Washington, D.C., area. Blackwell assumed his new duties Monday, Oct.1.
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