He said Steward was well known for his “extreme dedication to his patients.”

“That was always the first and foremost thing for him - to make sure his patient had the best care available,” Anderson said. “He would spend an hour if that's what it took to make that patient comfortable.”

In 1963, Steward was presented with the Life Saving Award by the Columbia Safety Council for his work during the cave rescue of a patient with a broken back. In 1968 he was one of 23 firefighters to receive the Missouri State Legislative Award for extinguishing a major fire at KOMU.

During Saturday's open house, Steward was presented with proclamations from the Callaway County Commission and the Missouri State House of Representatives, as well as a retirement watch from the local firefighter's union and a portrait of his A-shift crew from the ambulance district.

“I liked the people who work here, I liked the people in the community and saw it was going to grow, and I wanted to be a part of it,” said Steward, who has served on a number of area fire and emergency medical service departments since 1959. “I'm going to miss the people here terribly, but I'll be in to see them.”

He said Anderson and A-shift supervisor Linda Ellis - both of whom he took under his wing as young CCAD employees - have been two of his favorite people to work for.

“Linda's been a tremendous boss - you couldn't ask for better,” Steward said. “Along with Doug Westhoff, I consider you three the best people I ever worked for.”

Steward said he plans to keep his paramedic's license current, although after doing some work on his home in Ashland, he intends to spend most of his time treasure hunting.

“It's a hobby I dearly love and it gives me the opportunity to travel,” he said. “I just like to get out and swing my (metal) detector around because I like my gadgets.”