It was 1969. Darryl Grob emerged from the Vietnam War and headed back home to central Los Angeles.

Before long he, like many former soldiers of the time, went down the rabbit hole of what Darryl called “dysfunctional distractions.”

But a short visit to Aspen changed all that. Darryl left “all things LA” and moved to the area full-time.

Soon, he discovered Colorado Mountain College. He recalls the college played a “significant role” in his personal development. Each class he took revealed another layer of possibilities for his future.

“I loved it,” says Darryl, who was chosen as Student of the Year upon graduation. “It led me to a bigger, better life.”

Darryl went on to work for a local construction company, rising from laborer to vice president. Along the way, he was nominated and elected to the Aspen Volunteer Fire Department. In 1995, he became Aspen’s first, full-time, paid fire chief.