Richard E. Madill, 74 of 22999 Spring Valley Dr., Watertown, passed April 30, 2017 at the Lewis County Residential Health Care Facility.

The funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6 at Asbury United Methodist Church, Watertown.

Burial will follow in the Brookside Cemetery.

Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 5 at the Hart & Bruce Funeral Home.

Born on December 25, 1942 in Watertown, NY, son of Edwin and Helen Daines Madill, he graduated from Watertown High School in 1961.

During high school he was taken in as a "Junior Firefighter" for the Town of Watertown Fire Department.  On February 9, 1961, shortly after his 18 ^th birthday, he became a full member of Town of Watertown Fire Department.  He worked for five years delivering milk for Rutland Hills Dairy and he also worked a short time at Knowlton Brothers Paper Co.  In 1964 he became a full time firefighter at Fort Drum.

In March of 1970 he was elected President to the County Rescue 88.  One of the purposes of Rescue 88 was to provide a rescue vehicle that could bring needed supplies to fire scene around the county – for example, extra pumps, lights and generators.  Mr. Madill was elected 2 ^nd Assistant Chief for the Town of Watertown Fire Department in April 1976.  In April 1979 he was elected 1 ^st Assistant Chief and served as Chief from 1979 – 1985 and was instrumental in preparing the fire department for the expansion on the west side with the development of the Salmon Run Mall.

On January 1, 1980 he received an appointment as Jefferson County Deputy Fire Coordinator.  In July of 1985 he was appointed as County Fire & Emergency Medical Services Coordinator (Part Time) and became full time in April of 1988.  In June of 1992 he was appointed as County 911 Coordinator by the County Administrator James Wright.  In May of 2000 he was appointed as temporary Director of Fire and Emergency Management Services for Jefferson County and in February of 2001 he was appointed permanent Director of Fire and Emergency Management Services of Jefferson County.  One of his major accomplishments as Fire & EMS Director was the installation of the Enhanced 911 system.  The enhanced system allowed for the origin of the emergency call to be displayed, allowing more accuracy in dispatch information.

Dick was an active member of the NYS Fire Coordinator's Association, FASNY, NYS Association of Fire Chiefs, and many others.

Among his survivors are three daughters and two sons-in-law, Lisa A. and Mark Staie, Lowville, Penelope S. and Jon Massey, CO, Debra L. Madill, Watertown; two grandchildren, Zachary Staie and Marja and (Jim) Walker; 5 great grandchildren, Audrina, Jaxson, Briella, Cora and Onika; two sisters, Barbara Mattis, MD, Sandy Surace, Watertown; several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Town of Watertown Fire Department (22825 Co. Rte. 67, Watertown, NY 13601) or the Town of Watertown Ambulance Service (PO Box 170, Watertown, NY 13601).