And in with the new. . .

Ryan Gibson wasn’t going to stand for it.

A fireman was late to his shift one morning and Gibson knew he needed to be properly punished.

“If someone in the department breaks a rule or does something wrong, the officer has to fill out a report and explain to me what went on and what happened,” said Chief Tony Stewart.

And that’s what Gibson - a captain - did.

The guilty party? Ryan Gibson. “Ryan comes up to me one day and says, ‘Hey, you need to write me up,’” Stewart recalled.

Stewart inquired as to Gibson’s reasoning.

“I was running a little late this morning and it was a little after 7 when I came out, so I was late,” Gibson told his superior.

“Write me up.” So Stewart did just that and then used that anec- dote Tuesday to praise his successor as chief of the fire department.

Stewart told the story during a promotion ceremony being held at the Interbank Community Room.

Gibson was approved as the new chief by the Kingfi sher City Commission in January upon the recommendation of City Manager Jim Thomas.

He officially took over Friday, March 29, which was Stewart’s last day.

Tuesday’s ceremony was attended by family, friends, city leaders, fellow firemen and multiple guest speakers, including Thomas, State Sen. Darcy Jech and Oklahoma Broadband Office Executive Director Mike Sanders, a former state representative who was a champion for fire departments during his terms in office.

“Chief, your leadership the past decade has been exemplary. Your management of the Kingfisher Fire Department has brought tremendous improvements and you have served as a role model for those under your command,” Sanders said in paying homage to Stewart.

“As you enter retirement later this week, know that this community is thankful for your service and we’re entirely grateful for what you’ve done for all of us.

“You will be sorely missed, but you have left us in a much better shape than when you started.”

He then turned his attention to Gibson.

“I don’t envy your position. You have some pretty giant boots to fill, but I have every bit of confidence you will succeed and do a great job,” Sanders said. “Your desire to help those in need have driven all the successes you’ve had thus far and I’m certain that will continue to be the case as you’ve taken the reins of a top-notch fire department that Chief Stewart has put in your hands.”

Jech discussed the characteristics of what he felt was an effective leader.

“I think about someone who, maybe they had a different title than they did, but I was on their team and they made me feel like a part of the team,” Jech said. “They made me feel like they were willing to do whatever it took to achieve our purpose or function.

“They serve with honor, they serve with integrity. They showed me they’re men and women of high character and I appreciated that in them.”

He then talked how such a position Gibson was taking over affected Jech personally.

“I want you to know this is the community I grew up in. My family is here. My business is here. This is where I’ll retire,” he said.

“This is where all these people are from, so you’ve taken on a great task, a great responsibility. You’re in my prayers. You and all your team are in my prayers. You have a responsibility I can’t even imagine.

“I thank you for doing that. It means so much to me and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”

Thomas interviewed Gibson extensively before recommending him for the position.

“We have much to be proud of as the fireman’s ax is being passed from one generation to the next,” Thomas said.

“For me, personally, I look forward to developing a relationship with you as chief of the department, building a new fire station in the years ahead and ensuring the citizens of Kingfisher have the peace of mind to know when they dial 911, the best public servants in the state of Oklahoma are right here in Kingfisher.”

He then offered his own words of wisdom on effective leadership, much of which was derived from one of his own favorite leaders, Winston Churchill.

That included leading by example, developing a network of other chiefs from which Gibson could seek counsel, knowing his own strengths and weaknesses and then turning those weaknesses into strengths, and also to ponder, then act.

Added Thomas: “Trust the men on your command. Tell the truth and they will follow your lead.

“Most of all, Ryan, I want you to know my door is always open. I look forward to having many conversations as we work together to build a great city, standing on the shoulders of those pioneers that came before us to make Kingfisher what she is today.”

A Dover High School graduate, Gibson joined the Kingfisher department in 2004.

Prior to that, he’d served more than four years as a member of the Dover Fire Department.

He was promoted to lieutenant in 2007 and captain in January 2014.

Stewart said he got to know Gibson when the latter was working at O’Reilly’s Auto Parts.

It was then that Stewart learned of one of Gibson’s acts of heroism when he saved someone from drowning after their car had overturned in a creek down Dover-Crescent Road.

Few people, noted Stewart, knew that story.

“That’s the kind of guy he is,” Stewart said. “He’s going to do his job and not toot his own horn so I will probably have to toot it for him.”

True to form, Gibson was concise with his words.

“I’m proud of what ‘Chief’ (Stewart) has taught me,” Gibson said. “He’s led me and all the people in this room have helped get me to where I am today. Thank you all.”

In telling his story about having to write up Gibson, Stewart looked back on that moment as a positive notch on Gibson’s belt.

“That’s the kind of leadership you’re looking for and that’s what they’re going to get,” Stewart said. “They can always look forward to someone being honest and having integrity - a lot of integrity - because Ryan didn’t have to do that at all.

“Nobody probably knew (he was late). In fact, they probably didn’t and I think that’s why he came to me and said, ‘Hey, I messed up.’ And I respect you a lot for that.”

And, now, Stewart turns over his department to Gibson.

“I want my guys in the back to know,” said Stewart, talking to firemen who were at the event, “that you’ve got a great leader.

“I know without a doubt in my heart it couldn’t have been anybody other than this guy.”