IL Chief Takes Oath; Tower Dedicated to Predecessor

The community gathered at a stateline fire department Sunday for a dual event -- swearing in of the new chief and honoring his predecessor. 

E. J. Dilonardo said he is looking forward to guiding the North Boone Fire District.

He has 39 years of experience, having spent 30 of them with the Rockford Fire Department, WTVO reported adding that he helped establish the first ambulance service in the district. .

“It was pretty simple. They were looking for a chief, and they called me up and I started meeting with board, and we talked about it. They’re just a great group of people. It’s a great organization, there’s no flaws in the organization. I think it’s gonna be fun to work with them, they’re a family, and move the department forward.”

In addition to welcoming the new man wearing the white helmet, fire and rescue personnel and the community lauded former Chief Gail Worley by naming the training tower after him.

It is a state-of-the-art building that he fought to get back in 2010.

“The naming of the tower, that was a bonus. I didn’t feel I did anything special, I was just doing my job at the time. A lot of the firemen and the new chief, they felt differently,” he told the reporter.