For Billie Trump, City of Beckley is an Eagles song

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — A retired Beckley Fire Department chief and city treasurer was installed as the first city manager for the City of Beckley on Monday, July 1, 2024.

Billie Trump was appointed as interim city manager by Mayor Rob Rappold and began serving in the position days after retiring from the City of Beckley.

Ryan Neal, who was sworn in as the mayor of Beckley on Monday, said Trump had been convinced by a search committee to leave retirement and take the position of city manager until a permanent candidate could be selected.

When asked, the mayor said on Monday that he doubted Trump would be interested in serving as city manager permanently.

Trump agreed.

“I’ve been trying to retire, and hopefully I’ll be successful,” said Trump. “At one of the events I was at, a young lady came up and said, ‘You kind of remind me of the Eagles song ‘Hotel California,’ you know, you can check out, but you can never leave.'”

He said Beckley Common Council is likely to appoint a new candidate within a few months, after the committee has selected a candidate.

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