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By Kate Hunger 

Department of Emergency Health Sciences adjunct faculty instructor Conrad M. Gonzales, Jr., is featured in a video by AARP Texas.

The video was posted on the AARP Texas Facebook page in September to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. In it, Gonzales shares his personal philosophy.

“I look at it this way: If I can save a life, I have made a difference, and I think that’s my passion – to try to make a difference,” he says.

Gonzales retired from the San Antonio Fire Department after 22 years and joined the EHS faculty in 2017. In 2018, he published a book that features dozens of stories from his years with the fire department as well as educational sections about smoke alarm installation, seat belt use, drowning and suicide prevention. The book’s title, “10-96: (We’re On the Way),” refers to the 10-code used by firefighters when they are en route to a call.

Grandparents, a major segment of AARP’s audience, play a significant role in keeping youth safe, notes Gonzales, who also has recorded safety songs for children.

“We are all responsible for our kids safety when they are small,” he says. “We should also be responsible for our grandkids’ safety as well.”

Additionally, Gonzales hopes the video spreads his message that people can make an impact on the lives of others, no matter their age.

“There is so much you can do after you can retire,” he says. “We can make a difference up until the day we die