If Gary Stritesky can survive 10 years as a full-time school bus driver, he should be able to survive anything.

Beginning next Thursday, the Silver Lake native will compete on national TV against 18 other castaways on “Survivor: Fiji.” The popular CBS reality show’s 14th season premieres at 7 p.m., Feb. 8.

At age 55, Stritesky is the oldest of this season’s contestants. But, his years of experience could serve him well. As a carpenter, outdoorsman, marathon in-line skater and Vietnam vet, Stritesky is both athletic and skilled at roughing it.

“He calls himself a jack-of-all trades and a master of none,” said his wife, Diane Stritesky. She and Gary live in Ramsey, just north of the Twin Cities metro area. “After we watched the first season,” she said, “he became interested and said, ‘That’s something I want to do.’”

To find out how Stritesky got picked for "Survivor" and how his lifetime of experience could help him win $1 million, see the full story in today's Leader print edition.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)