S.C.'s oldest active firefighter dies after 65 years of service
Hobart “Hobie” Erickson, 95, started his fire service career in New Jersey in 1965Apr 27, 2022
By Leila Merrill
ABBEVILLE, S.C. — Hobart “Hobie” Erickson, has died Abbeville County Fire Department announced Tuesday. At 95, Erickson was the oldest active firefighter in South Carolina.
Erickson served for more than 65 years, FOX Carolina reported. He started in 1965 in New Jersey.
In an interview on his birthday in January, Erickson said he exercised for over an hour three times a week and worked part-time at a golf course.
“First of all, The Good Lord’s watching over me. He has been good to me. I have a good wife. And I have a good fire department here. All these guys take care of me. They’re always watching over me,” Erickson said in January. “As long as I can keep going, I’m going to keep going.”
The Abbeville County Fire Department said, “he was a great leader and mentor to all he interacted with. He will be missed by all who knew him.”
