20131108 PR Fire Chief McEllin Retirement; Acting Chief Named
Press Release
Contact: David Niemeyer
Phone: (630) 368-5020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Email: dniemeyer@oak-brook.org
FIRE CHIEF RETIREMENT, ACTING CHIEF NAMED, SEARCH PROCESS SET
Oak Brook, Illinois –November 8, 2013
Fire Chief Tom McEllin announced his retirement this week. McEllin has been employed as Fire
Chief since 2009 and was initially hired by the Village as a Firefighter/Paramedic in 1981. Shortly
after receiving McEllin’s retirement letter, Village President Gopal Lalmalani announced the
appointment of Battalion Chief Gary Clark as Acting Chief. Clark was hired as a
Firefighter/Paramedic in 1992. He became the department’s Emergency Medical Services
Director in 1996, was promoted to Fire Lieutenant in 2005, and Battalion Chief in 2009.
President Lalmalani also announced the formation of a committee to search for a new Fire
Chief. Trustee Jerry Wolin will serve as the Committee Chair. Trustee John Baar, Trustee Mark
Moy, and residents Cathy Giangrasse and Tom Mullins will also serve on this committee.
About Oak Brook:
Founded in 1958, the Village of Oak Brook is located 15 miles west of downtown Chicago and is
in proximity to the junction of Interstates 88, 294, and 290. The Village consists mostly of
residential subdivisions, with the exception of the Oak Brook Center shopping mall, other retail
and office properties along 22nd Street and Interstate 88. Oak Brook is the home of many
corporate offices, most notably, the world headquarters of McDonald’s Corporation, Ace
Hardware, Tree House Foods, Inland Real Estate and the service club organization Lions Clubs
International. Oak Brook is also known for being one of the few municipalities in the Chicago
area that does not levy a property tax on residents or businesses. To learn more about Oak
Brook, please visit http://www.oak-brook.org.
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