When Jimmy Purcell first stepped into public service in 1990 as a firefighter/EMT with the City of Gladewater, he had no idea that one day he would be at the helm of an entire city.
Now, as the city manager of White Oak, Purcell oversees every department in a growing community of 6,500 residents — proving that a willingness to keep learning can chart a new path in public service.
Purcell’s public safety career spans more than three decades, beginning with the Gladewater Fire Department, where he rose through the ranks to captain. Along the way, he attended the police academy at night, earning his certification and serving as a reserve police officer. In 1998, he joined the Longview Fire Department as a firefighter/paramedic, eventually becoming deputy fire marshal and serving as a fire/arson investigator until his retirement in 2019.
But retirement didn’t last long.
White Oak, a small East Texas city neighboring Longview, was seeking to transition its volunteer fire department to include a paid chief. Purcell was hired in August 2019 and served in that role for three years. As he got to know city officials, including the mayor, another opportunity emerged: the upcoming retirement of the city manager.
“I never thought I’d be in this kind of position — it wasn’t on my radar at all,” Purcell said. “But I prayed about it with my wife, and when the time came, I applied and was chosen out of 13 applicants.”
In 2022, Purcell officially became the city manager of White Oak, overseeing 55 employees and every major municipal function — from police and fire services to water, streets, parks and economic development.
“I wear a lot of hats,” he said. “In a small city, you have to. I’m the city manager, but I also serve as the human resources director and the economic development director.”
While Purcell’s background in emergency services gave him leadership experience, municipal management was entirely new territory. That’s when a familiar face stepped in to help.
Mike Bishop, a former Longview police chief and longtime acquaintance, had become a faculty member in Tyler Junior College’s Public Administration program. Knowing Purcell was new to city government, Bishop suggested he look into the program.
Purcell enrolled and completed the 18-hour Public Administration Certificate entirely online while balancing his full-time responsibilities as city manager.
“TJC made it easy,” Purcell said. “The courses were all online and specifically tailored to public service. I learned a lot about how cities function — things I wish I had known before stepping into this role.”
He completed six courses over two semesters, calling them “tremendously helpful” for managing city operations and understanding government processes. The experience was so impactful that Purcell encouraged his assistant and finance director to enroll as well.
As a city manager, his philosophy centers around people — his staff and the citizens they serve. “My main job is to make sure my employees are happy and have the tools they need to serve the public,” he said. “If they’re supported, everything else falls into place.”
As for the future, Purcell is already looking to expand his knowledge further by taking additional courses through TJC.
His message to others considering a move into public service or leadership is simple: “Take the leap, especially if you’re working full time. TJC makes it possible.”