by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Mayor John Peyton said it was definitely the first time it’s happened since he has been in office.
Some research by the City’s Human Resources Department determined that Tuesday morning Ray Rountree was the first City employee in history to receive a service pin recognizing a career that spans 50 years.
The ceremony actually marked 50 years and three weeks since Rountree’s first day on the job was Dec. 8, 1958. He said when he went to work, he had no intention of hitting the half-century mark.
“My original plan was to make my 20 years and get out,” said Rountree, who began his career paving streets and repairing potholes. He has worked in the Public Works Department’s Survey Division since 1972. “I’ve stayed so long because I have so much fun.”
In the past five decades, Rountree has witnessed the development of Jacksonville’s suburban infrastructure and a lot of local history.
“I remember picking up bricks at the Gator Bowl years ago,” he said. “We stacked them up and paid people a penny apiece to scrape the asphalt off of them. That was back when the field ran east-and-west instead of north-and-south. Every Thanksgiving, Andrew Jackson and Robert E. Lee played a high school football game there and all the girls went in fancy gowns.”
Rountree’s 50-year pin was the first one awarded, but the City is prepared for employees to equal and even surpass that landmark of employment longevity.
“We have four more 50-year pins, two 55-year pins and two 60-year pins in the inventory,” said Pat Mayes from the City’s Human Resources Department. She added the next time a 50-year pin will be needed will be April, 2012 when R.C. Nazworthy, who works in the Parks and Recreation Department, reaches the milestone.
Peyton praised Rountree’s contribution to the City and said, “People like Ray possess tremendously valuable institutional knowledge.”
After the presentation Peyton asked Rountree, “Ray, do you think you have another 50 years in you?”
“No, but I’m good for maybe 25,” replied Rountree.
[email protected]
356-2466