At age 19, Paul Young became the youngest paramedic in Nevada. He took his role as fire captain and paramedic both seriously and passionately. During his 36-year career, he saved countless lives as an EMS with the fire department and private ambulance companies. It was no surprise when his family found out that he was an organ donor. Paul was able to save and heal 30 lives via organ, tissue and cornea donations he made at age 55, when he died from complications after neurological surgery. His passion for helping people is his living legacy.

Paul's Story

At the age of 19, Paul Young became the youngest paramedic in the state of Nevada. According to his wife Jan, the state had to change its drinking statutes in order to accommodate Paul's young age since he was not old enough to drink alcohol but was administering narcotics to his patients. "The irony was not lost upon Paul," Jan said.

For the next 13 years, Paul worked as a paramedic with private ambulance companies in California and Nevada while attending college. He graduated from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 1987and was accepted into the University of Nevada, Reno medical program because he aspired to be a doctor. However, Paul received an invitation to begin firefighter rookie school, and he was hired by the Clark County Fire Dept. on March 7, 1988.

"Although his mother was disappointed that she couldn't say 'my son the doctor,' Paul never regretted the path he chose," Jan said. He climbed the career ladder in the fire department from fire fighter paramedic to engineer and ultimately to fire captain, a position Paul still held at the time of his death.

Paul was very committed to his family, friends, and the residents of Clark County. He took his role as fire captain and paramedic both seriously and passionately. He both loved and was loved by his crew at Station 31 and prior to that, Station 16.

After more than 20 years of bachelorhood, Paul found his true love, Jan, and they married on September 29, 2001. He instantly became a devoted father to Nicole Danielle, the apple of his eye.

During his 36-year career, he saved countless lives as an EMS with the fire department and private ambulance companies. He always knew he wanted to do the same once he passed on, so it was no surprise when his family found out that he was an organ donor.

On September 22, 2012, at age 55, Paul passed away after sustaining a neurological injury after an aortic dissection and a thoracic aneurysm repair. He saved and healed the lives of more than 30 people via organ, corneal and tissue donation. His passion for helping people is his living legacy.