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PARKERSBURG -- Paul "Kim" Marshall is retiring after more than 40 years as a surveyor, fighting fires and serving the community.
Marshall submitted a letter of resignation to the Wood County Commission, resigning as county surveyor and as a member of the Wood County Fire Board. About a year ago, he retired as the fire chief of the Deerwalk Volunteer Fire Department after 22 years but has remained active with the department.
Marshall and his wife, Sandie, are planning to move to the Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina where he plans to keep busy.
He graduated from the West Virginia University Institute of Technology in 1975 and went to work with his father, Paul E., in his surveying business, becoming a partner in 1976. The business became Marshall and Marshall Surveying.
His father was the county surveyor at the time, serving from 1956 to 1980. When his father retired, the younger Marshall was elected and served from 1980 to 1992.
He did other work for 26 years and people urged him to run again in 2018. He won the election.
"It was humbling for the people to come out and support me," he said.
He joined the Deerwalk Volunteer Fire Department in October 1976 as a charter member working up through the ranks. His father and uncle originally surveyed the land where the fire house was located and designed the grading.
In South Carolina, he plans to keep busy. There are a variety of things and possible jobs he can look into to keep busy. He's considering playing golf to fill the time.
He and his wife have traveled to Myrtle Beach regularly over the years and have always enjoyed their time there.
Before going, Marshall is planning to donate the survey books his family had done on the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport site and other sites throughout the county to the Blennerhassett Museum. The work dates from the 1940s to the present, and includes the work he, his father and his uncle Arden did.
"I think it will best serve the public being in a public place," Marshall said.
Marshall has served as the past president of the Wood County Fire Fighter Association, held leadership positions with the West Virginia Fire Fighter Association, been the president of the Wood County Planning Commission, and president of the Wood County Parks and Recreation Commission.
"It has been a fun ride but it is time for the new chapter to start," he said.
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com