Millions of children dream of being a firefighter when they grow up. But Doug Stewart never had that dream. In fact, he became a firefighter when he was in college only because he needed the extra money. He never expected to enjoy it as much as he did.

In fact, almost 50 years later, he’s still a firefighter. He’s the oldest firefighter in the city of San Jose. He’s opening a lot of eyes to the idea that once we pass a certain age there is still an important role to play and that we can make significant and important contributions.

Since Doug first started, the field has undergone some major changes. Now, all firefighters have extensive medical training. The job has become much more physically demanding and it’s become an occupation for the young.

Doug stays in shape by hiking in the mountains. He says he’s always hated to sit still and thrives on being active. He says he dreads having to think about retirement because he’s worried things will be too dull.