No. 5
Partridge takes on new job

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Jan. 1, 2004
H.C. "Bunky" Partridge bid farewell as chief of the Meridian Fire Department when he retired and then took over as head of the city's training center and Department of Homeland Security.
Partridge's move ended a 29-year career with the fire department and left a vacancy that was later filled when Mayor John Robert Smith appointed battalion chief Tim Miller to head the agency.
Partridge began his new job on Nov. 1 months after he stepped down from a similar role with the city's training center when it was run by the nonprofit Three I.
He stepped down amid controversy and allegations that he may have violated state ethics laws by receiving a salary from both the city and the nonprofit company.
Today, Partridge directs all of the city's emergency training at the 99-acre center on Sand Flat Road a job he said is "going good."
Partridge is currently working with the U.S. Office of Domestic Preparedness to be authorized to train employees for a homeland security class at the Meridian training center.