Elbert Nelson, known as "Nellie" by his crew, spent his 30-year career on the San Diego City Fire Department, beginning in 1952. He enjoyed taking on a multitude of additional responsibilities such as first aid captain, hose captain and often worked "out of classification" as battalion chief. He was responsible for training all San Diego firefighters in first aid, which later became the genesis of the paramedic program. He loved international travel, building block walls, pouring concrete and building his dream house for fun, all while doing anything for his kids. He died of a job-related dissecting aortic aneurism.