Staff report

SALISBURY — After 31 years in local government and 30 of those serving Rowan County, Emergency Services Chief Frank Thomason announced to his staff on Monday his decision to retire effective Jan. 1.

“For the past 13 years, I have been very blessed with the honor and opportunity to lead this fine organization of men and women who come to work each day and apply your talents and skills to ensure that the citizens and visitors to Rowan County receive some of the best public safety services anywhere.” Thomason said in a memo to his staff.

“Together we have been able to shape and further advance the delivery of emergency management, fire and emergency medical services to the county and beyond. I take great pride in the fact that we are an organization that is looked upon as professional, forward thinking, and one in which others seek out advice and ideas from the successful initiatives we have been able to implement.

“I know that each of you share this same pride,” Thomason said. “None of these efforts would have been able to be accomplished if it were not for each of you working collectively together to fulfill our common mission.”

Thomason began his tenure in local government in January 1986 as a fire telecommunicator with the Salisbury Fire Department. In October 1987, he joined Rowan County as a telecommunications shift supervisor, and in October 1993 he was promoted as Rowan County’s first telecommunications director. He held the job for the next 11 years.

In March 2004, Thomason was named Rowan County chief of emergency services.

Rowan County Manager Aaron Church said, “Rowan County has been fortunate to have one of the best emergency management directors in the nation. Having Frank at the helm is comforting because I know that our community is in capable, trustworthy and compassionate hands.

“Frank will be missed, and he is leaving big shoes to fill. However, he has agreed to assist administration in the recruiting and selection process for his successor who we hope to have in place before December 2017.”

A retirement reception for Thomason will be announced by the Rowan County Manager’s Office at a later date.