Chief Willie Morgan began his 44 year career with the City of Groveland Fire Department as a volunteer in 1975 after a high school friend persuaded him into joining. Sometime in 1976, the volunteer Fire Chief at that time, Buc Tomlinson, resigned, leaving an opening. At that time, you had to live in the city to be the Fire Chief, and the only person who lived in city limits at the time was Chief Morgan. In September of 1999, the department converted over to a full-time paid department, making him the city’s first career paid Fire Chief.

Since then, he has grown the department into what it is today, from an all-volunteer department to a paid full-time department with 22 highly trained personnel, staffing two stations 24 hours a day 365 days a year. This year, the city of Groveland will open another Station and will add nine new firefighters.

Chief Morgan also served on the Groveland city council for nine years, from January 1977 up until January 1986. In 2013, he also served as interim city manager until the position was filled.

Chief Morgan is also a General Contractor by trade and has his hand in many buildings throughout the Groveland and Clermont area in one way or another. He now will oversee the construction of the city’s new 33,000 square-foot Public Safety Complex located on Highway 50.

After its completion, Chief Morgan and his wife of 43 years, Donna, will be moving to their retirement home on a river in Alabama.

Congratulations, Chief Morgan!