The Oxford Board of Aldermen read two retirement resolutions during their regular meeting as they said goodbye to a city engineer and a firefighter, who both had years of service working to improve the lives of Oxonians.

The Board read a resolution recognizing the retirement of Capt. William “Kenny” Tidwell from the Oxford Fire Department.

Tidwell joined OFD in February 1994, “establishing himself as an invaluable resource and respected, beloved fixture among not only his fellow workers but the entire Oxford Fire and emergency service community,” stated the resolution, that was read by OFD Chief Joey Gardner. “Capt. Tidwell’s fire ground leadership has always been a model for all firefighters to aspire to.”

Tidwell thanked his family for their support and told the Board that it’s been a “true honor” to serve the city of Oxford.

“I’d like to thank my fellow firefighters for the opportunity and for all their service that they’ve done,” he said. “I’m not a speech person. I’m not someone to get up and talk in front of others but it’s truly been an honor.”

Reanna Mayoral was hired in August 2011 as assistant city engineer for the city working under then-city engineer Bart Robinson. In 2018, she was promoted to City Engineer when Robinson became the city’s Chief Operating Officer.

Her engineering career began in 2000 with the Mississippi Department of Transportation. She achieved licensure as a registered Professional Engineer in 2005.

During her time with the city, Mayoral has guided and overseen many projects that have “brought increased public convenience, safety and stability to Oxford,” stated the resolution. “… knowledge of her job, city of Oxford infrastructure and past projects; her compassion towards the citizens of the city of Oxford; and her awareness of the needs and desires of Oxonians will be greatly missed by all of the Oxford Community and her fellow employees.”

Mayoral thanked the Mayor and Aldermen, city employees, her staff and her family for all of their support over the years.

“As I leave the city and begin the next chapter of my life, I thought about how I wanted to be remembered,” Mayoral said. “It’s not about how many roundabouts were installed – there were a million – or the impossible projects we built or my passion and obsession for the details. I want to be remembered as someone who truly cared about the city and who truly cared about each of you.”