Everly, IA (KICD)– The Everly community and many from around Clay County came together on Sunday to celebrate the career of its longest serving firefighter.

Roger Ginger, better known as Lefty, started with the Everly Fire Department in 1973 and 50 years later has decided it is time to put away the gear one last time.

Ginger got his start in the fire industry after being recruited by a co-worker and since that time Chief Brian Kahl tells us Lefty has been nothing short of a legacy.

The special reception put together by fellow firefighters featured a number of surprises for a man who is tough to catch off guard including an unexpected visit from his daughter Kelly who traveled from Oregon to share some words about her hero and roll model.

Even the Clay County Communications Center got in on the surprises with a special message sent out to local first responders.

KICD News also got an opportunity to briefly visit with Lefty about his career and how being on the fire department has changed over the last five decades.

Some digging through community records shows Roger “Lefty” Ginger is the only person to serve fifty years on the Everly Fire Department, in fact prior to this retirement the longest serving firefighter accumulated 38 years.