Gatesville Fire Chief Billy Vaden Retires After 55 Years

Billy Vaden will step down as Gatesville Fire Chief on New Year s Day, bringing to a close a remarkable 55 year career in the local fire service. The announcement, shared with the community on December 24, 2025, marks a generational transition for a department shaped by decades of major fires, expanding training expectations, and deep reliance on volunteer personnel.

Assistant Chief Robert Featherston is expected to take on the chief s responsibilities, providing an internal succession that city officials and department members say should preserve operational continuity. Vaden s tenure encompassed not only front line firefighting but also the steady professionalization of training standards and incident response protocols that have altered how small town departments prepare for and manage emergencies.

The change in leadership comes at a time when recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters has become a pressing issue for Gatesville and neighboring communities. Reduced volunteer rosters can stretch response times and place greater demands on paid staff when mutual aid is required. For residents, the transition highlights the importance of community support for the department through recruitment, attendance at public safety events, and constructive engagement with local officials on funding and training priorities.

Over his decades of service Vaden witnessed shifts in equipment, certification requirements, and the scale of incidents the department confronted. Those shifts have increased training hours and administrative duties for volunteer members, creating tension between modern professional standards and the volunteer model that has long served Coryell County communities. The incoming chief faces the immediate task of balancing those demands while maintaining response readiness during the winter months and as the calendar turns.

Vaden s retirement closes a long chapter for Gatesville s fire service, and his successor will inherit both institutional knowledge and ongoing challenges. The community s role in supporting recruitment and training will be central to maintaining the department s ability to protect life and property in the years ahead.