2015 Rooted in the Rapids

After his marriage of 25 years ended, Gordon Pearson found himself trapped in a job he hated, burdened by debt. In an effort to find purpose in his life, he took a 50 percent pay-cut to leave his job at the paper mill and become a firefighter at age 46. Now, at 54, Pearson is much older than most of the firefighters at the Roanoke Rapids Fire Department. He is remarried and spends 10-13 hours a week training for triathlons and to meet the physical demands of his job and for triathlons. Pearson completed his first half Ironman Triathlon when he was 48.