At the Feb. 22 meeting of the City Council, Fire Chief Lee Grant, left, presented Emerson with his captain’s helmet and applauded his hard work on behalf of the community. Chief Grant said Emerson has been doing a lot of daytime work for the department and was burning himself out. Emerson told the council, “Old firefighters never die. They just pick up their hose.” He also said he got more out of fire fighting than he gave. Emerson also is a retired school teacher.