Mayor Joe Sinnott thanked him for his 33-years of service.
Fire Chief Tony Pol called him a "class act."
But Assistant Erie Fire Chief Ray Welch has another phrase now that he faces mandatory retirement when he turns 65 on February 27th.
"Kinda sad" he told us.
Welch began his City of Erie career in the water department but took his firefighter test in 1980.
He rose in the ranks to Assistant Fire Chief, gaining supporters among his co-workers as he did.
Former fire union president Joe Walko has been tapped by the Mayor to fill the Assistant Chief's job.
Walko is currently training with Welch.
"What I see these men and women do day in and day out, I'm proud to be a member of this department " Walko told us.