The Clayton Fire Department sent off one of its own into retirement with style on Friday.
The Town of Clayton hosted a retirement ceremony for Deputy Fire Chief Tony Atkinson, who protected and served the community for three decades. He became the first full-time hire for the Clayton Fire Department back in June 1994.
Administrators and colleagues gathered at Station 1 on West Horne Street to celebrate Atkinson and wish him well following a career that spanned 30 years.
“I’ll miss it… I will,” Atkinson said. “It’s a little sad, a little happy. You can’t just walk away from something like that after all these years. I knew this day was coming.” “I am very proud of the brotherhood we shared in the fire service and to have the opportunity to recognize Tony for this significant milestone,” Deputy Town Manager and former Fire Chief Lee Barbee said.