Roy Emery says he has been working full time since he was 13 years old. Auto parts store, gas station, food service, you name it.
But since 1983 he has had one employer, the Corvallis Fire Department. He joined as a volunteer at the age of 20, became a paid staffer in 1985 and took over as chief in 2007.
He “officially” retired in June 2018, but he has remained on the job pending the hiring of his replacement. Kenneth McCarthy, who previously served in San Jose, assumed the fire chief position June 17.
Emery will represent the department Wednesday at a Corvallis City Council-Benton County Board of Commissioners joint work session on the November vote on a 911 emergency services taxing district. But that will be his last action as chief.
“This was a perfect fit,” Emery said of his firefighting career. "When you find something you like it’s like you never have to work a day in your life.”