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City Manager Karrie Beth Little presented Jimmy Johnson with a commemorative glass trophy at his retirement party
WATONGA – Dozens of Watonga employees and friends gathered Friday at the former Watonga City Hall auditorium to honor Jimmy Johnson, a 27-year veteran of the Watonga street department, and celebrate his retirement from the city.
Guests heard remarks from Johnson and his supervisor, Justin Woldridge, before City Manager Karrie Beth Little presented Johnson with a commemorative glass trophy and attendees enjoyed some cake.
The trophy says: “Awarded to Jimmy Johnson. 27 years of service. We appreciate you and thank you for all you have done for our community.”
“Jimmy, it’s been great working with you, dude,” Woldridge said. “We appreciate everything you’ve done for us. … You made it.”
Johnson told Woldridge he is the “greatest boss” he’s had. “He never gets angry about anything, he’s cool about everything, and he gives people a chance,” Johnson said.
He thanked Little for throwing his retirement party and remembered some of his colleagues from the past.
“I sure appreciate all the other guys I got to know. In 27 years, I’d say there’s probably been about 300 or 400 guys come through there,” Johnson said. “… People want to go from job to job to job, they don’t want to stay anywhere. But they say a rolling stone can’t gather no moss.”
He said spending a quarter-century with the city allowed him to retire young enough to live life and maybe find another job. “That’s what my plans are,” Johnson said. “Maybe lay off a couple months, and then I’ll probably be bored, so I’ll have to find something to do.”
Johnson told the Republican he is originally from New Mexico. Woldridge said he took the job originally as a temporary replacement for his father-in-law – and the rest is history.