Saturday was a big day at the Huntersville Fire Department. A dedicated firefighter and EMT who spent half a century serving and protecting Mecklenburg County finished up his final 24-hour shift. His career was such an inspiration, it became a family affair. “It's been quite a ride,” Koppy Williams said. “I have mixed emotions about it. It's one of those things where I’m happy to have accomplished what I have but I hate to see it go by." Friends and family celebrated his dedication at the firehouse during his last shift. Williams has helped keep Mecklenburg County safe for the last 50 years. His career started in 1971 with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. He was a police officer and volunteer firefighter simultaneously for three decades before retiring from the police department in 2002. But he didn't slow down, focusing fully on being a firefighter and EMT.