06/11/2026
RABA is very proud to announce our 2026 Independence Day Parade Grand Marshal: GERALD LUEDECKING.
Gerald Luedecking enlisted in the US Army Reserve in 1968 after graduating from high school. He joined the Barry County Sheriff's Department in 1971 and the Richland Township Fire Department in June of 1972. Gerald was discharged from the Army in 1974. He reenlisted in the US Army Reserve in 1982. He became a special agent in the US Army's Criminal Investigation Division (CID). He then left Barry County in 1988 and joined the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety evidential becoming a crime laboratory specialist.
Gerald married his high school sweetheart, Trudy Yager, to the chagrin of her parents. Trudy and Gerald got married in 1975. Trudy's parents softened up towards Gerald in about 1992. They have two children, Bryan and Eric. Bryan lives in Chicago with his wife, Laurie, and works for a well-known bank as a Vice President for a trust bank. Eric lives in Richland with his wife Anna and works as an estimator for an electrical contractor. Eric is a member of the Richland Fire Department.
Gerald was appointed Assistant Chief of the Richland Fire Department in 1988. He was deployed to Saudi Arabia in October of 1990 for Operation Desert Storm. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and was then released from active duty in May of 1991. He had been awarded a Bronze Star. Gerald was then appointed Chief of the Richland Fire Department in 1994.
Gerald returned to the fire department and set out to achieve his goals for the Richland Fire Department. He had two main goals. One was to never get a fireman hurt or killed, and the other was to improve fire protection for Richland residents and businesses.
Gerald initiated a mutual aid and initial aid pact with the surrounding fire departments. This brought immediate help with equipment, water, and manpower on fires. Every Richland firefighter became a Medical First Responder or higher. Medical equipment was given to every firefighter, including some AEDs, drastically shortening the response times to some medical emergencies. The AEDs have saved countless lives in Richland since obtaining them. Gerald was instrumental in obtaining Jaws of Life for the fire department, eliminating the long wait for other departments to respond and assist when people were trapped in their cars during vehicle crashes.
Gerald was deployed again in February 2003 to Kuwait for the invasion of Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Armored Division and fought their way to Baghdad. Gerald was awarded his second Bronze Star for his actions in this war. He was deployed again in 2006 to Washington, D.C., where he worked for the Secretary of Defense. He was awarded the Joint Service Commendation medal for his work.
Upon returning home, Gerald worked tirelessly to improve the insurance rating for Richland Township. This is the ISO (Insurance Services Rating). ISO rating is a very complicated formula that involves the fire department's pumping capacity, water available, radio frequencies, manpower, training, and the number of on-duty dispatchers available. 10 is the worst rating, meaning there is no organized fire department serving your area. Gerald brought the Richland fire rating from a 9 down to a 4.
Gerald became an NFPA professional board-certified fire plans examiner and later an NFPA professional board-certified fire inspector. The only two positions Richland has ever had. He is also a State of Michigan certified fire inspector and plans examiner.
Gerald retired from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety in 2012. Gerald retired from the US Army on September 1, 2012, as a Warrant Officer-4 (CW4), with 36 years of service. Gerald Luedecking has been on Richland Fire Department for 54 years, and has served as fire chief for 36 years. Gerald and Trudy have been married for 51 years.
