Bradley Jon Liggett was born December 7, 1966, in Sterling, Illinois. A native to Rock Falls, Illinois, Brad graduated from Rock Falls Township High School and attended Beloit College before serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a hospital corpsman for the Marines in Desert Storm. He continued his education at Blackhawk Tech and Upper Iowa University. Brad knew early on that he wanted to make a career out of public service. While he was at Beloit College, he took a tour of the fire station and was hooked. He knew this was how he could serve his community. Brad immediately asked the chief when he could do a ride along, and the chief told him to come in the next day. That was the start of his 30-year career in the fire service.

Chief Liggett became Freeport’s fire chief in 2019 after serving as the chief of the City of Beloit Fire Department for 16 years. Starting his firefighting career in 1989, he served as a paramedic, motor pump operator, lieutenant, and assistant chief of Beloit before he was named chief in 2003. He was a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association, the Wisconsin Homeland Security Council, National Society of Executive Fire Officers, Rock County 911 Commission, the City of Beloit Heightened Awareness & Emergency Preparedness Team, the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, and 2nd vice president of the Metropolitan Fire Chief’s Association.

Other people mattered to Chief Brad Liggett. That was the sentiment of those who knew him best and worked with him for three decades. Brad saw possibilities in people. He really did live his life to serve and teach others.

Chief Liggett’s passion for helping others didn’t stop at the fire service. Brad was also a member the Freeport Salvation Army Advisory Board and former chairman of the Beloit Salvation Army Board, Literacy for Life of Beloit, Vets Roll, the City of Beloit 4th Fireworks Committee, and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Brad was a past member and president of the Kiwanis Club of Beloit, former chairman of the 2005 Stateline United Way Campaign, a Cubmaster of Pack 306, and PTA president for Morgan Elementary School and Robinson Elementary School. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club in Freeport,

Outside of work and clubs he was involved in, Brad loved to be around his friends and family. He loved to work on home improvement projects with his wife, Mary, and travel. Brad always had a welcoming smile on his face that made you feel like you knew him. He always had a smile and a hand out to introduce himself, “Hello, I’m Bradley Liggett.”