When Chris Millard graduated from Byron High School in 1975, he didn’t expect his name would one day be synonymous with service in his hometown. But in the decades since, he’s done just about everything there is to do in Byron—firefighter, paramedic, alderman, mayor, and, maybe most importantly, a source of quiet strength for the people who know him.

“I’ve had an amazing life,” he says. “God’s given me opportunities I never could have planned.”

Chris grew up the son of small business owners. His parents ran two men’s clothing stores—one in Byron and one in Oregon—and when health challenges led his father to ask for help, Chris stayed home instead of heading to college to pursue baseball. He had been a four-year varsity starter on the Byron baseball team, a team captain, and a .333 hitter his junior year, but family came first.

“I figured out early that if I stayed on the honor roll, I got a 25% discount on car insurance,” he laughs. “So I stayed on it.”

That brand of practical thinking—and self-sacrifice—would define the rest of his life.

He married at 25, raising three children: Gabe, Noah, and Emily. His wife, Lou Ann, whom he calls “an amazing woman,” had already experienced tremendous loss when they met—her first husband was killed in a farming accident when she was six months pregnant. Chris adopted her son and built a life with her rooted in faith, hard work, and community.

“I thank God every day for that woman,” he says. “She supported everything I ever did.”

Chris spent 37 years with the Byron Fire Protection District, rising to the rank of deputy chief and spending his final years overseeing operations. He was also a paramedic and a fierce advocate for public education and readiness, often seen inside Byron schools speaking with students about fire safety or health emergencies.

He even found time to serve on the city council for three terms and as mayor of Byron for two terms—roles he embraced with humility and drive. “I didn’t do it for the politics,” he says. “I did it to serve.”

Some of his proudest moments came not in a boardroom, but in competition. Chris helped lead Byron’s entry into the Firefighter Combat Challenge, a grueling national test of physical fitness, endurance, and firefighting skill. He won his division as a deputy chief and helped put Byron on the national stage.

All of this, while raising a family—and leaving behind a legacy of leadership.

Both of Chris’s sons are now firefighters themselves. Gabe is a battalion chief in Skokie, and Noah is a lieutenant in DeKalb, testing for captain. His daughter, Emily, works as a surgical tech for Ortho Illinois. Collectively, they’ve given him nine grandchildren.

“I’m proud of them,” he says simply. “They’re great kids. They’ve done well.”

When Lou Ann passed away three years ago after a courageous battle with cancer, Chris retired from full-time fire service to be with her during those final months. He later returned to serve as a trustee for the fire district, a role he stepped away from last spring.

Now 68, Chris still works out six or seven days a week and remains deeply connected to Byron. He has lived a life of presence—showing up when it mattered, stepping back when it didn’t, and always knowing the value of being the person others can count on.

“I’ve been in on rescues, on resuscitations. People thank me for helping,” he says. “But I thank them—for supporting their community, for letting us serve.”

Chris Millard didn’t chase glory. He chased readiness, resilience, and relationships. And in doing so, he made his hometown stronger, safer, and better prepared—without ever asking for the spotlight.

Because for Chris, it was never about being the one in front.

It was about being the one who came when called.