Grandview honors Fire Chief Rodney Baldwin at retirement ceremony

Mayor Leonard D. Jones and State Representative Anthony Healy presented proclamations recognizing Fire Chief Rodney Baldwin, who will retire from the Grandview Fire Department after nearly 25 years of service.

"For those of you who don't know me, my name is Anthony Healy," Rep. Healy said, introducing a resolution from the Missouri House of Representatives that honored Baldwin’s decades of work and listed roles he held in the department. Healy noted Baldwin’s responsiveness to city needs and called him "an outstanding Missouri citizen."

Mayor Jones read a city proclamation thanking Baldwin for his tenure and asking the board and residents to join in recognition of his service. Colleagues and other city officials praised Baldwin for strengthening cooperation between the fire and police departments and for his long record of community service. Veteran Ben Tevin, introduced by the mayor, told the council he had been taken on trips by Baldwin and called him "a dear friend."

Baldwin thanked his family and the city. "I just wanna say, thank you to my family," he said, and expressed appreciation to the mayor, the board and the citizens. The council presented Baldwin with tokens of appreciation and remarks concluded with applause.

The ceremony included a formal proclamation that said Baldwin would officially retire on Dec. 29, 2025, after nearly 25 years with the department. No formal council action or vote was required for the proclamation. The meeting moved on to regular business after the presentation.