EPCHS Alum In The Spotlight: Brendan Meskill, Class Of 2001

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — The recently appointed deputy fire chief for the village of McCook in near west suburban Chicago is a proud alum of Evergreen Park Community High School.

Brendan Meskill said he’ll forever remember “the lifelong friends” made while attending EPCHS and as a Mustang football player for four years.

“I’m still fortunate enough to be very close friends with them to this day,” said Meskill, who has worked as a firefighter and paramedic for a number of different Chicago-area departments over a career that has spanned 23 years thus far.

At EPCHS, “the teachers were great to have and the environment was one of a kind,” Meskill added.

“The closeness of our school made it special also. We did not have a ton of kids in the school, so you knew everyone’s name, and I thought that was one of the cooler things. Not a lot of other schools can say that due to their size.”

Becoming a firefighter is something Meskill has wanted to do since even before high school.

“It was between fire service or being a tornado chaser,” he said. “I picked fire service and have loved my job every moment of the way.”

As a general requirement for firefighters to also serve as paramedics, he has served in both capacities for his entire professional career. He’s worked in either full time or part time roles for the Hometown Fire Protection District, Crete Fire Department, Kankakee Fire Department, Argonne Fire Department, Homer Fire Protection District and Oak Forest Fire Department before landing in his current position as deputy fire chief with the McCook Fire Department.

Amid his professional career, Meskill has continued in his educational path, having earned two associate’s degrees from Moraine Valley Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University. He’s currently enrolled in a program to earn his master’s degree in public administration.

“I was fortunate enough that the fire department I worked for covered education expenses, which was a big motivation factor for me to get back into school and get my degrees.”

Advice for current EPCHS students:

“Stay on task with your schoolwork and grades and push yourself to do clubs and sports. Meet as many people as you can and be respectful to your teachers and others. EPCHS is really a great high school and continues to be because of the kids who go there. Keep that South Side family values and traditions strong and aim for your dreams and stay with them no matter what.”