When Fire Marshal Barry Overman was just 8 years old, Billy Pritchard had already been a member of the Elizabeth City Fire Department for two years.

Now more than 33 years later, Overman — a 19-year department veteran — is taking over the reins of the department from Pritchard, who retired as fire chief on Monday.

Overman, who was named interim fire chief last week, was among the well-wishers saying so long to Pritchard at a retirement luncheon at Knobbs Creek Recreation Center.

Others attending the farewell luncheon included firefighters, Pritchard's family and numerous city and county officials.

Police Chief Charles Crudup, who came to Elizabeth City 13 months ago, said he learned quickly that Chief Pritchard was reliable.

"He'll be greatly missed," Crudup said. "He's always been very supportive, a man you can count on."

Also, a former fire chief drove all the way from Greenville to bid Pritchard farewell.

Roy Spell, who served as the city's first black fire chief from September 1996 to October 1999, also recalled Pritchard's support and dependability.

"I can't say enough about that, having been the first African-American chief here," said Spell, who recently retired as Greenville's fire chief.

His advice to Elizabeth City's next fire chief was simply to follow in Pritchard's footsteps.

"Listen to the people and the community," Spell said.

Also attending Pritchard's luncheon were his wife Gwen; daughter Sabrina from Florida; son William and his wife Lindsay, brother Chuck and his wife Linda; mother Margaret; sister Pam Collins, who is a 911 telecommunications specialist; sister Barbara and husband Bob Fitchett.

City Manager Rich Olson said he remembers meeting Pritchard on his very first day of work in Elizabeth City — Sept. 18, 2003, the day Hurricane Isabel struck the region.

Olson said he and Pritchard, at the time assistant fire chief, got to know each other well at the incident command center during and after the powerful storm. Olson was so impressed with Pritchard's leadership abilities that three years ago, when then Chief Gilbert Baccus retired, he offered the department's top job to Pritchard.

The chief's job capped Pritchard's long career in the fire department that began on Feb. 28, 1975. After becoming a lieutenant in 1978, Pritchard was promoted to captain in 1990, battalion chief in 1992 and assistant chief in 1995.

Mayor Steve Atkinson said Pritchard's retirement is "bittersweet."

Bitter, he said, because the city is "losing one of North Carolina's finest fire chiefs," and sweet because Pritchard now "is going to be able to spend time with his family."

Pritchard, 54, said he has a "to-do list" that should keep him busy during retirement, including tending to a small lawn and landscaping business.

"I plan to take some time to do the things I want to do," he said.

Meanwhile, Pritchard had some advice for the next fire chief.

"I hope the next chief will realize he's got a great department, (and someone who will) be willing to step up to the plate and understand that as Elizabeth City is growing, the fire department keeps up with the growth.

"He needs to listen to personnel and the community. And remember that the safety of the citizens of this city and county are the top priority."