Edinburg fire crew creates mural in honor of late Chief Snider

EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Edinburg Fire Department is honoring its former Fire Chief who passed away last year.

Former Edinburg Fire Chief Shawn Snider passed away after a battle with cancer on May 1, 2023.

Snider died at 58 years old, dedicating over 30 years of his life to serving the Rio Grande Valley.

Fire crews at the Edinburg Fire Department created a mural to remember Snider's legacy and impact he had on his peers and the Edinburg community.

Edinburg firefighters were asked to send one word on what they thought about Snider and what he meant to them.

The mural shows a photo of Snider with words from peers that describe him as a hero, a leader and a friend.

Photo by Emiliano Pena (ValleyCentral)

"He was always just a great mentor and a great leader," Garza said. "Every time we had a disaster or whatever, he was always there."

The late fire chief joined the Edinburg Fire Department in January 1991 and became chief in 1999 until his passing in 2023.

As chief, Snider worked to improve the department’s response times, increase training opportunities for firefighters and enhance public safety in the community.

The Edinburg Fire Department says they will continuing honoring Snider's legacy for years to come.