He served WFD for 40 years
Michael L. Rudd, a retired Deputy Fire Chief with the Wichita Fire Department, died on Monday after battling a long illness. He was 60.
Rudd, who retired March 5 after more than 40 years of service to the City of Wichita, joined the Wichita Fire Department as a 19 year old in 1969. He rose through the ranks as a Firefighter, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, Fire Battalion Chief, Fire Division Chief and director of the department's Emergency Operations Command. Rudd was known for his outstanding work ethic, often working long hours at emergency incidents and in his office addressing administrative tasks.
In 1996, he was awarded the “Excellence In Public Service Award” sponsored by the Devore Foundation. He was a graduate of Wichita State University and the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program.
