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Chief Steven Ray, left, and his wife Sonja Ray, right are both looking forward to his retirement from the Madill Police Department. Crystal Burnezky-Robertson • The Madill Record -
Marshall County Sheriff Donald Yow, Madill Police Chief Steven Ray and Madill City Manager James Fullinghim all joined the Madill Police Department at the tender age of 21. Crystal Burnezky-Robertson • The Madill Record
Madill Police Chief Steven Ray is retiring from the Madill Police Department. His retirement will be official on January 26. Madill City Manager James Fullinghim talked about Ray's retirementtheDecembercity council meeting.
“There aren’t that many people who have started their career in Madill working their way up the ranks to the Chief of police and then retire from the same department,” Fullinghim said when it Ray's retirement was first announced.
This is a history making retirement for the Madill Police Department as Fullinghim, Ray, and Marshall County Sheriff Donald Yow all three started with the MPD at the age of 21. They now all three have officially retired from that department.
“It is neat that there will be three of us here that started out at such a young age and retired from here,” Fullinghim stated.
Ray was presented with multiple awards during his official retirement party on January 19, including a Certificate of Recognition for his 21 years of service and dedicationpresentedbyState RepresentativeJoshCantrell and Senator Jerry Alvord.
Raysaidheplansonenjoying his retirement.
“It's bittersweet, just going to enjoy retirement and time with the family, nothing planned right now,” Ray said. Ray’s wife of 20 years, Sonja Ray, said she knows that rest and relaxation is at the top of the list. After 21 years of service, this will mean more family time.
“There is lots to do on the honey do list,and there is a family vacation planned, but mainly more time with the family and less stress,” Sonja Ray said. “What people do not understand and what most people think this job is 8-5, but it’s not. The phone rings all the time - off duty, on the weekend, after hours. That is all we have known.”
Both Chief and Sonja Ray wanted to thank the community and those that Chief Ray worked with during his 21 years of service. Sonja Ray said she is appreciative of the community.
“Thank you. It's been a pleasure, the co-workers, city employees, even the fire department, everybody. It’s like a family,' Chief Ray said. 'It’s been an amazing 21 years and we are looking forward to the next chapter.”
Chief Ray reflected on his team and his time working with the community of Madill.
“I’m Proud of my team and the accomplishments we have made over the years,' he said. 'Almost everything I had anticipated and wanted to do I accomplished. I am proud of that. Had a good city manager and city council to work with. I am grateful for that.”
Ray’s wanted to give some advice to those coming up through the ranks of the department.
“I've seen a lot of changes in the 21 years of law enforcement and just in the last couple of years,' he said. 'Just keep your head up, there is no telling what is to come and good luck.”
Prior to this retirement announcement, Chief Ray retired as a volunteer from the Madill Fire Department making his departure all the more historic. Ray will be retiring with a legacy of hard work, dedication, and loyalty that will be hard to match.