Posey retires after 25 years with fire department

After 25 years with the Snyder Fire Department, Fire Marshal Cy Posey is retiring at the end of the year.
Posey started as a volunteer firefighter in October 1990 after working for more than 22 years for Southwestern Bell Telephone. When Southwestern Bell eliminated his job in 1995, Posey had the option of transferring to either Austin or his hometown of El Paso.
“I still had a son in school at the time and my wife, Ronna, and I liked the schools here in Snyder,” Posey said. “So I took Southwestern’s ‘deferred retirement’ option and we stayed here in Snyder.”
About that time, Posey was encouraged by the late Terry Don McDowell, who was fire chief at that time, to become a full-time firefighter. Posey attended the fire academy in Abilene at the age of 44 and became a full-time firefighter in October 1995.
When McDowell died in 1998, the fire department was without an arson investigator. The new fire chief, Perry Westmoreland, gave Posey the opportunity to become the arson investigator later that year.
After going through the law enforcement academy and arson school, Posey was certified, and was appointed fire marshal in 2000, a post he has held ever since.
Westmoreland said part of what made Posey successful was his unique ability to relate and converse with anyone.
“He is very much a people person, more so than most,” Westmoreland said. “He will be greatly missed here.”
Brad Bawcum, who was named deputy fire marshal in September, will take on many of Posey’s duties. Bawcum said Posey has been a good friend and mentor and said he was able to lighten the mood with his sense of humor.
“He kept it light when things weren’t going great at the office,” Bawcum said. “He was good at reinforcing lessons to new recruits and his knowledge of things outside the department, like electronics, has been beneficial.”
Posey accomplished plenty in his time with the fire department, include being named fireman of the year in 1993. Together, he and Westmoreland helped establish fire prevention programs for children and adults.
But he will be remembered for more than his achievements and awards.
Scurry County Judge Ricky Fritz worked with Posey in emergency management and said Posey has been dependable through the times they’ve worked together.
Other law enforcement members who have worked with Posey have commended him for being dedicated to his work and easy to work with.
Scurry County Sheriff Trey Wilson said Posey was always quick to the scene. Police Chief Terry Luecke said Posey was “always a pleasure to work with” and will be “hard to replace.”
Snyder Mayor Tony Wofford said Posey always brought a great attitude to his job.
“All the times I’ve dealt with him, he’s been top notch,” Wofford said. “Cy is a man of integrity. He loves Snyder and he is a bright star in this community.”
Posey said he decided this would be his final year earlier in 2015, after discussing it with his wife. Although his retirement officially goes into effect at the end of the month, he has already begun packing up items in his office and is enjoying more time with family.
He said he hopes retirement will give Ronna and him time to travel and he said he is taking up carpentry.
Posey said the thing he will miss most about working in the fire department is the contact with the community.
“I’ll still be around town, but you get so involved in the community,” Posey said. “I guess that’s what I’ll miss most.”