Howard Wright was fire chief of Live Oak for 27 years before his retirement in 1994. Wright passed away Monday at age 78 after a lengthy illness.

Known simply as “Chief,” Wright started his career at the Live Oak Fire Department in 1952 before becoming chief in 1967.

Chad Croft, present LOFD chief, was hired by Wright 23 years ago.

“He was a dedicated member of the city and county,” said Croft. “He was just a great chief and a good man.”

Croft said Wright also had a sense of humor about him.

“He always said there was ‘The right way and the Wright way,'” recalled Croft. “‘Now which was do you think we’re going to do things?'”

Alan Bedenbaugh agreed that Wright had a humorous side.

“He was fun to work with, he was a fair man, though,” said Bedenbaugh, Safety Training Officer at LOFD. “I remember we went by his pocket watch, not the clock on the wall. We would all be breaking over a pot of coffee and he would come in and pour it out and say ‘All right boys, according to my watch it’s time to go back to work.'”

Gene Riggs, who worked for Wright then followed him as chief, said that while he and Wright didn’t always agree, he respected him.

“You can lead by rank or by example, he always led by example,” Riggs said by email. “In his day he was a heck of a firefighter. He did a good job for the city for 42 years and that says a lot. He was an asset to the city and when he retired he was missed.”

Riggs was chief from 1996-2000.

Live Oak Police Chief Buddy Williams remembers a different side of Wright.

“He loved watersports and loved to ski,” Williams said. “I’ll bet that is something most people won’t know about him.”

Williams knew Wright for about 30 years.

“Chief Wright was definitely an admirable man and probably had one of the best work ethics I’ve ever seen,” said Williams. “He demanded greatness.”

Davis DeLoach worked as assistant fire chief under Wright for about 20 years.

“He did his job and liked his job,” said DeLoach. “He was dedicated.”

Wright was Fire Chief of the Year for the state of Florida in 1980 and was president of the Florida Fire Chiefs Association in 1976. He was also presented the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.

Wright was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce in 1993 and served as charter board member of the Suwannee River Economic Council. He was also member of the Live Oak Lions Club and was made a life member in 2004.