Bay City Mourns the Loss of Fire Chief Randy Frontz After 45 Years of Dedicated Service
With deepest sorrow and a heavy heart, the Bay City community comes together to honor the life and legacy of Chief Randy Frontz, a revered public servant, devoted firefighter, and cherished friend to many. Chief Frontz passed away peacefully on July 25, 2025, after a lifetime of selfless service and unwavering dedication. His passing marks the end of an era for the Bay City Volunteer Fire Department, where he served with honor and distinction for an incredible 45 years.
A Life of Service
Randy Frontz was not just a firefighter — he was a symbol of strength, leadership, and compassion. He joined the Bay City Volunteer Fire Department in the late 1970s as a young man with a desire to give back to his hometown. Over the decades, his commitment never wavered. Rising through the ranks, he eventually became Fire Chief, a role in which he served for over 20 years, leading with humility, grit, and an unwavering focus on the well-being of others.
Under his leadership, the department expanded its capabilities, modernized its equipment, and trained a new generation of volunteer firefighters who looked to him not just as a mentor, but as family. Chief Frontz was often the first to arrive on the scene and the last to leave. He faced burning buildings, raging floods, and emergencies of every kind with the same calm resolve and quiet bravery that defined his career.
The Heart of a Community
Chief Frontz wasn’t just a public servant — he was a pillar of Bay City. Whether directing traffic during a storm, handing out toys during the department’s holiday toy drive, or speaking at local school assemblies about fire safety, he was ever-present. His voice, his handshake, his steady gaze — all familiar and comforting to those who knew him.
Community members often recall how Randy treated everyone with dignity, no matter their background or circumstance. He was known for remembering names, showing up without being asked, and offering words of encouragement that seemed to arrive at exactly the right moment.
“Randy was the heartbeat of Bay City,” said longtime friend and fellow firefighter Jeff McCullough. “He didn’t just protect us — he lifted us up, every single day.”
A Mentor and a Friend
In a field that often faces great risk and emotional toll, Chief Frontz was a beacon of resilience. He guided countless young recruits, teaching them not only the mechanics of firefighting, but the values of teamwork, respect, and sacrifice. Many of those who trained under him have gone on to lead departments of their own, carrying his lessons into firehouses across the state.
“He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” said one former trainee. “He saw something in me — and because of him, I became the man I am today.”
Beyond his professional impact, Randy was known for his sense of humor, his love for grilling with family, his deep respect for tradition, and the quiet wisdom he offered in even the toughest of times.
Honoring a Legacy
In tribute to Chief Frontz’s extraordinary life, the Bay City Volunteer Fire Department will hold a full honors funeral service in the coming days, including a traditional last call ceremony, where his unit number will be broadcast one final time over the radio — a solemn farewell to a leader who never failed to answer the call.
A procession of fire trucks and emergency vehicles is planned to escort Chief Frontz through the streets he served so faithfully, giving community members a chance to pay their respects. Flags across Bay City have been lowered to half-staff, and tributes have poured in from fire departments, civic leaders, and citizens far and wide.
In addition, the city has announced plans to name the fire station’s training center in his honor — a lasting reminder of the impact he made and the legacy he leaves behind.
Final Thoughts
Chief Randy Frontz embodied the very best of public service. He was a protector, a teacher, a neighbor, and above all, a good man. His absence will be deeply felt by all who had the honor of knowing him — yet his spirit will forever echo in the firehouse he helped build, in the lives he touched, and in the town he so dearly loved.
As the sirens fall silent and the community gathers to remember, one truth stands strong:
Randy Frontz may be gone, but his light, his courage, and his love for Bay City will never fade.
Rest easy, Chief. We’ll take it from here.