Beloved Fire chief celebrates 40 Year’s volunteering

By Savannah Edgar

The Luverne City Council held a special ceremony at it’s May 12 meeting to honor Fire Chief William F. McManigle, who is retiring after 40 years of service with the Luverne Fire Department.

McManigle has served as chief of the local volunteer fire department for 30 years.

The room was filled with city leaders, firefighters, friends and family, all there to recognize McManigle’s dedication. The council passed a Resolution 051225, officially thanking the chief for his service and naming him the longest-serving chief in the department’s history.

“Chief McManigle is only the sixth fire chief to serve since the department started in 1929,” the resolution said. “He has served the citizens of Luverne faithfully and tirelessly.”

McManigle’s son Jason McManigle addressed guests during the ceremony and shared how his dad became a firefighter. 

After their Pennsylvania house burned down in 1983, the family moved to Alabama. Not long after, McManigle began volunteering at the local fire department.

“They told my mom he needed something to do or we’d move back north,” his son joked. “Then he joined the fire department, and he never stopped.”

At the end of the ceremony, Bill McManigle received a fire helmet as a symbol of his time leading the department.

“A lot of knowledge was under this hat,” Jason said. “He’s been a father to me and a friend to many others. I just call him Dad.”

In other business, the council:

• Mentioned plans for the Fourth of July fireworks, and a potential date change to July 5th;
• Reviewed City safety reports and fire department equipment updates. The fire department’s fire truck will be operating more quickly than they had planned; and
  An alcohol permit transfer was approved for the new “Food Champ” store, formerly known as Ramey’s Marketplace. 

The next Luverne City Council meeting will be held on May 26, at 5:30 p.m.