Gary Marrs
Tragedy, it is said, brings out the best or worst in people. And our final inductee showed the world that in Oklahoma, tragedy brings out the finest and best in the dedicated municipal employees who labor in our 580 plus communities every day. "The Oklahoma Standard" was emblazoned in the world's psyche in the moments, hours, days, and weeks following 9:02 AM on April 19, 1995. And the epitome of this Standard is a very humble and quiet man who sought only to serve his community as best he could.
Gary Marrs followed in the steps, or should I say gear, of his grandfather who in 1921 became an Oklahoma City Firefighter, followed by Gary's dad in 1947. He hadn't really decided on a career when he first went to OSU, and then spent four years in the Air Force, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. But after his military service and at his grandfather's urging, he became a rookie firefighter in 1972, rising 20 years later to the post of Interim and then later permanent Fire Chief.
To help prepare for the opportunity to advance in the department, Gary earned degrees in Fire Protection Technology and Municipal Fire Protection from Oklahoma State University and graduated from the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Here's a brief look at Gary from his Air Force days, as an artist and as Fire Chief.
During his tenure as Fire Chief, he was widely respected as an innovative and visionary leader who knew that fire departments must prepare for whatever might come their way. He was instrumental in the formation of the Special Operations and Emergency Medical Services work sections in the Oklahoma City Department. During his watch, firefighters also helped to increase citizen awareness of fire dangers and prevention methods. These initiatives have become models for many other departments that share the Department's vision statement - "To Provide Excellence through a Unified Fire Department that is Consistent, Accountable, Loyal and Safe." While no longer in the Fire Service, Gary continues to be a part of the City in his new role as Assistant to The Mayor.
Responding to the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was instinctive. Serving as Incident Commander required courage, ingenuity, and self-assurance. Gary's personal commitment to the safety of all emergency workers and victims is his legacy. As people around the world watched him, they recognized that a new standard was being set in Oklahoma for all those responsible for terrorism and disaster emergency response and rescue. Gary Marrs, and the thousands of other municipal and private sector employees who worked under his command, demonstrated to the world that in Oklahoma, the worst brings out the best in people.