Making it official: Himmelrick sworn in as Weirton fire chief
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WEIRTON -- After five months, Kevin Himmelrick had the "acting" removed from his title Wednesday.
Surrounded by family and his fellow firefighters in the Weirton Room of the Millsop Community Center, Himmelrick took the oath of office from Mayor Harold Miller, and officially became the new chief of the Weirton Fire Department.
The promotion is the latest step in Himmelrick's 37 years of firefighting service, which began when he was a teenager, following in the footsteps of his father, who was chief of one of the local volunteer departments.
"It's more than a career," he said, noting he began as a volunteer firefighter in Weirton before joining the city's career department. "It's been my life."
Himmelrick said he had spent the last five months trying to convince himself not to try for the job, but ultimately felt it was an important move in his service to the community.
"It's an honor to work for the city and the citizens of Weirton," Himmelrick said, while thanking his family for their support and the members of the Weirton Fire Department for their work during the last few months.
Himmelrick steps into the post following the retirement of former chief Jerry Shumate at the end of 2019.
Miller offered his congratulations to Himmelrick, saying it is an honor to be able to announce the promotion.
"These are the special moments I enjoy," Miller said, adding it was his first time taking part in the hiring process for the fire chief position, and noting it provided him an opportunity to get to know many of the city's firefighters better.
Several city officials, as well as members of the city's Fire Civil Service Commission, also were on hand.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)