Jerry McGee

Jerry McGee, a long-time Verde Communities resident and among the initial leadership for the Rio Verde Fire District, passed away on Friday, June 6, 2014.

McGee became involved in emergency services in Rio Verde shortly after he and his wife, Janet, moved here from Palm Springs.

At that time he joined the team of resource specialists that were trained volunteers who responded to assist firefighters on incidents.

The early ‘90s was also the time the Fire District was organizing for Rio Verde. McGee was not part of the organizing board appointed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, but he put his name on the ballot for the first official election in November 1994. He served on the board until 2008. For much of that time, he served as the board chairman.

McGee was elected along with Al Hill, who was the driving force in forming the district, primarily to finance emergency service operations apart from the Rio Verde Community Association.

“It has really been a pleasure to watch (the district) grow and develop,” McGee said in a 2008 interview when he retired from the board.

The biggest decision the board made during McGee’s tenure was to cut its ties with Rural/Metro.

“I always worked well with Rural/Metro,” McGee said. “It got to the point where they were not anxious to staff us like we felt we needed.

“Some of us on the board felt we needed better equipment and better staffing and we went on our own.”

During his tenure on the board the Fire District grew a great deal. The original district covered just Rio Verde and the Rio Verde Ranch area. Today it includes the Tonto Verde and Tegavah (formerly Vista Verde) subdivisions.

When the developer started work at Tonto Verde that area came into the Fire District. Vista Verde was absorbed as well.

A graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in engineering, McGee managed three companies for a group based in New York. He eventually purchased one of those companies, which manufactures prefabricated buildings, based in St. Louis. His son now owns that company.

McGee is survived by his wife, Janet; his son, Wayne; and daughter, Susan.

A private family service will be held.