Excerpts from the daily-journal.com:
Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young — the third longest-serving fire chief in Kankakee’s history — will be leaving the 50-person department. His last day will be Nov. 30.
The Illinois Fire Chiefs Association will coordinate the search to replace Young. Assistant Fire Chief Phil Perkins will serve as interim chief.
Young, 55, has spent his entire career as a member of the fire department. He was hired at the age of 22, on Feb. 7, 1984, and spent about 33 years with the department. He worked his way through the department and served as assistant chief for eight years before taking the department’s top spot upon the resignation of then-Chief Richard Kamerad.
Young’s 12-year stint as chief is the city’s third longest, behind that of Roy Marquart’s 18-year tenure [1935-53] and John Marquart’s 14-year stint [1961-75].
