By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Del Rio lost two long-time public servants this week with the deaths of George Joe Harrington and William “Bill” Rattay.
Harrington, 69, served as the chief of the Del Rio Fire Department from January 2017 until June 2021. Harrington died in Del Rio on Monday.
Rattay, 65, was employed as an investigator with the Val Verde County Attorney’s Office. Rattay died Tuesday in Methodist Hospital Northeast in San Antonio.
George Joe Harrington
Harrington began his lengthy tenure with the city on Jan. 1, 1974, when he was voted into the Del Rio Volunteer Fire Department. He served as a volunteer in the department until June 15, 1977, when he was hired by the Del Rio Fire Department.
Harrington earned his firefighter basic certification from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) in 1978, his emergency medical technician paramedic certification from the Texas
Department of Health in 1983. In 1984, Harrington was named DRFD Paid Firefighter of the Year.
In 1985, he earned his certification as fire service instructor II from the TCFP and in 1986, he earned his TCFP firefighter advanced certification. In 1988, Harrington served as president of the Wintergarden District of the State Firefighters’ and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas.
In November 1990, Harrington was promoted to lieutenant. He was named DRFD Paid Firefighter of the Year in 1991.
Harrington was promoted to captain with the DRFD in June 1996 and was assigned to the department’s training division. In 1996, he was also named DRFD Paid Firefighter of the Year.
In 1997, Harrington earned his arson investigator basic certification from the TCFP.
In 1998, Harrington was awarded the fire department’s medal of honor for his actions during a devastating citywide flood event in August 1998.
Harrington was assigned as to the department’s fire marshal’s office in 2000, and in 2002, earned his inspector basic certification from the TCFP.
Harrington was assigned to the department’s administration division in 2003.
In 2006, Harrington was promoted to assistant chief and served in the positions of operations chief, training chief and assistant to the emergency management coordinator.
In 2010, Harrington earned his master peace officer certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).
In June 2013, Harrington was appointed as the fire department’s deputy chief and worked with then-DRFD Chief Harold A. Bean to manage the department.
Also in 2013, Harrington was assigned as task force leader over agricultural rescue, automobile extrication and trench rescue for the Annual Municipal Texas Fire Training School.
In 2015, Harrington completed his 26th year as in instructor for the Annual Municipal Texas Fire Training School.
Harrington was appointed as interim fire chief in January 2016. He was appointed fire chief a year later, in January 2017, and led the fire department until his retirement from city service in June 2021.
DRFD Chief David Harrison told The 830 Times today, “In his 44 years of service as a member of the city of Del Rio Fire Department, Chief Harrington definitely left his mark on the department and the community.
“Progressing through the ranks of lieutenant, captain, and assistant chief, he was called on to fill the positions of training officer, inspector, arson investigator and fire marshal in the department before being appointed as the deputy fire chief, then as fire chief shortly after the retirement of Fire Chief Harold Bean,” Harrison said.
“Chief Harrington always went the extra mile in the performance of his duties and expected the same from the members of the department. Chief Harrington believed the fire department came first, but he still made time to serve the public in other ways through local organizations,” Harrison added.
Harrington is survived by his life partner of 25 years, Marta Rodriguez. Harrington enjoyed volunteering for events at the Whitehead Memorial Museum, where Rodriguez served on the board. He was also involved in the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee.
William “Bill” Rattay
Like Harrington, Rattay served the city of Del Rio for most of his working life.
Rattay began his law enforcement career with the Del Rio Police Department in August 1982.
He was promoted to police officer I in 1986, and from police officer II to police officer III in March 1996. He was promoted from police officer III to sergeant a month later, in April 1996.
Rattay was reassigned from sergeant to detective sergeant in
September 1999 and promoted from sergeant to lieutenant in 2007.
Rattay was appointed captain the same year. He served in all of the department’s major divisions, including patrol, criminal investigations and administration.
Rattay retired from the police department in January 2013.
The following month, Rattay went to work for the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office in February 2013 and worked there until August 2014.
Rattay was reappointed DRPD lieutenant by the late DRPD Chief Waylon Bullard in January 2015. He was promoted to captain of the police department’s criminal investigations division in July 2016 and retired from the department a second time in March 2021.
Rattay was hired as the investigator for the Val Verde County Attorney’s Office in January.
County Attorney David Martinez told The 830 Times today, “With all of his years of service and experience in law enforcement in Val Verde County, Bill was a tremendous asset to our office, particularly in the area of our office’s ability to provide critical services to victims of domestic violence through protective orders. As such, he was a tremendous asset to the public safety of our community.
“He will be greatly missed, as he was a dedicated employee and a true friend. May he rest in peace, and we pray that his wife Tamara and his family be comforted by God’s grace during this difficult time,” Martinez said.
Rattay is survived by his wife Tamara Harper Rattay, to whom he had been married for 30 years, and by two sons, William Rattay and Steven Rattay, both of Canyon Lake, Texas.
Rattay enjoyed photography, bicycling, listening to music and caring for a variety of animals, including dogs, cats and chickens.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
