Former Lumberton Fire Chief Ronald Wayne Parker was praised Monday for helping to bring the fire department into the 21st century.
Parker, who served as chief from 1989 until his retirement on July 1, 2000, died Sunday at New Hanover Medical Center.
“He was the greatest leader in fire service that I’ve known in a long time, ” said Steven West, chief of the East Howellsville Volunteer Fire Department. “… He was a close friend of mine. He was an outstanding gentleman. If he told you something, you could put your money on it.”
Parker, 66, moved to Supply after retiring from the Lumberton Fire Department. According to the department’s current chief, Paul Ivey, Parker became a Lumberton firefighter in 1971, was promoted to lieutenant in 1979, and became deputy chief in 1984.
Before becoming chief in July 1989, Parker served for about five months as the city’s Public Safety Director, a position that had him overseeing the city’s Fire Department, Police Department and 911 center.
“He is the only person who has ever served as the head of all three departments,” Ivey said. “He became chief of the fire department when the City Council returned to having a single fire chief, police chief and 911 director.”