Mayor Randall Wise passed away on January 20, 2020. At the time of his passing, he was the fourth-longest current serving mayor (49 years) in the United States.
First appointed to the position of Mayor in 1971, he was then elected, due to a charter change, in 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, and 2003. Mayor Wise lived his entire life in Niceville. He was voted in as President of the Florida League of Cities in 1979, and served in various other positions for the League over the years. Mayor Wise served as Chairman of the Board for the Florida Municipal Health Trust Fund and for the Board of Directors for the Florida League of Cities Loan Program. In 1997, he was presented the 20th Annual E. Harris Drew Award for his contribution to all cities of Florida.
He served as President of Panhandle League of Cities and the Okaloosa County League of Cities, and also served on their Boards. Mayor Wise served as a member of various groups including Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, Military Affairs Committee, the Host Committee for the Chamber of Commerce, the Ambassadors Committee, and the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council. He was one of the original captains of the Niceville Volunteer Fire Department.
The Okaloosa County School Board honored Mayor Wise and his service to the community on March 4, 1997 by naming the newly-constructed library at C. W. Ruckel Middle School after him.