Hobart “Hobie” Erickson put in 30 years at a fire department in New Jersey and rose to the level of captain. Then, he and his wife, Lois, retired to the Lakelands.
End of story, right? Absolutely not. Erickson kept riding by the Donalds Fire Department, and Lois encouraged him to volunteer. That eventually fueled his internal flame to return to doing what he always loved. Erickson joined the Donalds station and has spent 35 1/2 years there. He’s squeezed two full careers into one lifetime. Erickson is the oldest active firefighter in the state, according to officials from the South Carolina Firefighters Association, who came Saturday to present him a certificate. In addition, state Sen. Mike Gambrell presented him a proclamation, and the Town of Donalds and fire chief Ronnie Vaughn also gave Erickson gifts.
“He’ll expire before he retires,” Lois joked during Saturday’s 95th birthday party for Erickson at the station.