(ROSENBERG) - For four decades, Darrell Himly worked to keep Rosenberg safe in the Rosenberg Fire Department. On April 30, Chief Himly officially retired and hung up the uniform in exchange for a fishing pole.
Chief Himly joined the Rosenberg Fire Department as a junior volunteer firefighter in March of 1983. Upon turning 18, he became a volunteer firefighter and was promoted to volunteer lieutenant in 1988. He knew becoming a full-time firefighter was his career goal, and in January of 1990, Chief Himly’s dream became a reality when he was hired as a full-time firefighter with the City of Rosenberg. Prior to reaching the rank of fire chief, Himly served the city as a firefighter, lieutenant, and assistant chief and also served as the city’s emergency management coordinator.
During his distinguished career, Chief Himly was instrumental in putting together the first Strategic Plan for the department. He proposed and presented the 48/96 schedule that the firefighters still use today. Under his leadership, the department expanded its services to the city by replacing Engine 1, adding Tower 4, and began the process to replace Engine 3 embracing the growth of the city. To provide longevity of the engines, he expanded the use and concept of squads within the city which is the practice of using a pick-up truck or SUV to respond to emergency medical and rescue calls when appropriate instead of sending out a fire engine each time.
He was instrumental in creating engineer positions and converting captain positions to battalion chiefs and the fire marshal and training office to division chiefs. Chief Himly played an integral role in reducing the city’s ISO rating from a 4 to an improved rating of 2 – resulting in insurance premium savings for the citizens of Rosenberg. He also worked with Fort Bend County to negotiate an agreement to open Rosenberg’s Fire Station 4 in the Fort Bend EMS Station located at Hwy 36 and Band Road to better serve citizens in this area.
The department was awarded several grants under Himly, including the Firehouse Public Safety Foundation Grant for the purchase of a Polaris Ranger equipped with Firefighting and EMS capabilities (2017); Department of Homeland Security Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Hiring Grant for 6 firefighters (2018); Rebuild Texas Fund Preparedness Grant for the purchase of a Generator (2019); Firehouse Public Safety Foundation Grant for the purchase of a Rescue Boat (2019); Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Regional Grant awarding SCBA for Rosenberg, Pleak, Needville and Fairchild Fire Departments (2021); and the DHS Assistance to Firefighters Grant for the purchase of Headsets (2022).
Chief Himly served as president of the Tri-River Firefighter Association and was an Instructor at Texas A&M Fire School. He earned his Certified Fire Executive Professional from the Texas Fire Chief’s Academy and obtained his Fire Service Chief Executive Officer from Texas A&M Mays Business School.
Among his many accomplishments, he was awarded Rosenberg Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year in 1995; City of Rosenberg Employee of the Year in 1995; Gulf Coast Firefighters Association and Tri-Rivers Firefighter Association Firefighter of the Year in 1996; State Fireman and Fire Marshal’s Association FF of the Year Nominee; Elks Club Public Safety Employee Award for 1996 and the Red Cross Lifesaving Award.
“I am sincerely grateful to Chief Himly for 40 years of dedication to the city and citizens of Rosenberg,” said City Manager John Maresh. “His distinguished career truly defines what a public servant is as he leaves behind a legacy of leadership and service. We wish him well on his retirement!”
In his retirement, Himly looks forward to spending time with his family and fishing.
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