After 37 years of full-time service plus an additional 2.5 years of reserve firefighter service, Mark Blackstone officially retired June 30 from Superstition Fire and Medical District.

He was the first person in Apache Junction Fire Department/SFMD history to retire at the full 37 years of service, according to his wife, Eileen Holland Blackstone.

“Besides being the most senior engineer/paramedic/technical rescue technician/wildland firefighter, he spent nearly 30 years as a SWAT paramedic and is still the only certified SWAT paramedic in the district today. A special thank you to Mesa Fire alarm for allowing our sons Mark Jr. and Michael to give him his last call. A special thank you to my incredible boss who took a flight for me today so that I could be here with my family. Today is a great day,” she said in a Facebook post.

He was a Special Weapons and Tactics medic when the district was known as the Apache Junction Fire Department, Eileen Blackstone said.

“Mark’s nickname on the SWAT team was ‘Doc,’” she said in a Facebook message.

“They provided the paramedic position for Apache Junction Police Department. He started that program back on Sept. 8, 1989, with Paul Gomez. My sons are still in the military and both graduated from Apache junction High School. Mesa Fire dispatches for Superstition Fire and allowed us to send the recording in. He will continue volunteering with Queen Valley Fire District and continue going out on wildland assignments with them,” Eileen Blackstone said.