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Contact: Battalion Chief Steven Sapp
- (573) 874-7556 or Toni Messina, Communications Director - (573) 874-7660
COLUMBIA, MO (October 11, 2010) - Fire Chief William H. Markgraf announced to City Manager Bill Watkins today his intent to retire from the Columbia Fire Department on Jan. 5, 2011, after 22 years of service.
“It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Columbia as their fire chief for the past 22 years. Citizen support has ensured that Columbia is served by one of the finest fire departments in the state and the country,” Markgraf said. “The Columbia Fire Department is an outstanding organization because of citizen support, strong leadership of chief officers, and the dedicated men and women of the department who deliver emergency services every day.”
Chief Markgraf assumed the duties of the fire chief of the University City Missouri Fire Department in 1977 and after serving 11 years there, accepted then City Manager Ray Beck’s invitation to become the fire chief of the Columbia Fire Department on July 5, 1988.
Chief Markgraf has overseen substantial growth of the fire service during his tenure. When he first arrived in 1988, the department’s fleet of vehicles was aging and in need of replacement. Today, Columbia is fortunate to have a modern and effective fleet of fire service vehicles, three new fire stations, a modern training facility, agreements for service delivery with the Boone County Fire District, and a staff of 136 personnel.
Chief Markgraf began his career in the fire service 55 years ago when he volunteered in 1955 for the East Joliet Fire Department. Markgraf was always committed to the education of firefighters in both academic and vocational settings and began teaching in the mid-1960s. In 1977, Markgraf left his post as the director of Fire Science at Columbia College to accept the job as the fire chief in University City, Mo.
Chief Markgraf and his wife, Linda, plan to remain in Columbia after his retirement and he intends to remain active in many community organizations such as Rotary, Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and the Columbia Community Band.
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