Longtime SJFD Captain to retire after over 26 years

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph Fire Department and close loved ones said goodbye to a longtime captain at Fire Station 6 Thursday.

Quint 6 Fire Captain Jimmy Williams has been with the department for over 26 years.

"Well, it's been fast. I'll tell you what," Williams shared at this party. "I had a couple of buddies who were firemen, and they talked to me about a little bit and encouraged me to become a fireman. And the rest was history."

Williams, who is soon to turn 57, joined the ranks at 30.

Friends helped convince Williams to join the SJFD, which eventually gave him what he calls more family members during his time with the department. Not long after the 4:00 pm start time for his retirement party, many of his work family members and others began to fill Fire Station 6.

"It's humbling because, you know, you kind of feel like you got good relationships with people, but whenever they come out, as they do here, (it means a lot)".

One of those figures who meant a lot that came to the station was St. Joseph Fire Department Chief Ivan Klippenstein. Although Klippenstein said he didn't get to spend much time alongside Williams, he called the retiring Captain a model firefighter.

"(He's the) kind of guy that young people should definitely listen to, because he's been in and out of so many different fires, and he has the ability to know and understand and read those fires," Klippenstein shared. "I hope that while he's been here, he's had the ability to share those things with so many young firefighters that we have today".

As for advice for the current and next generations of first responders, Williams had simple words.

"Just take care of yourselves and study, be progressive. Work hard, and just like I said, keep in mind that in this job, you have to be a servant. You have to have a servant's heart to serve the public as we do."