Ron Gibson, the City of Rainier’s retiring public works director, will get 20 minutes off of work for his final Rainier Round-Up Days Parade on Aug. 24. He will kick off the parade as the grand marshal before jumping back to work for the festivities.
Gibson began working in Rainier in May of 1989 in maintenance before becoming the public works director the following year. As he prepares to retire at the end of the year after 35 years in the city, he is excited for his new role in the parade.
“It’s quite an honor, one that I didn’t expect. I’ve worked every Round-Up Days Parade since I started here, and the people enjoy it,” Gibson said. “It’s gonna be different to step back a little bit and be in the parade instead of working traffic.”
Tami Justice, Rainier clerk treasurer, said city staff and the council decided to honor Gibson as the grand marshal of this year’s parade last year.
“It just seemed fitting. It’ll be his last Round-Up Days Parade as staff, so it would be a good bookend to his career here,” Justice said.
Gibson, who just turned 65, said he decided to retire because he felt he accomplished all he wanted to do in Rainier and wants to spend time with his family.
“I think 36 years is a pretty good, long career, and I’m happy with what I’ve been able to do. Honestly, my wife has been taking care of me for 45 years, and it’s my turn now,” Gibson said. “At the end of this year, I’m gonna see what retirement’s about.”
Gibson is most proud of his involvement on the public works facility on Minnesota Street, restoring the historical church and Veterans Memorial Park, as well as watching the population grow from 808 people when he arrived to over 2,400 now. He said he will miss his co-workers most and that the public works department has a “really good crew.”
“I’ll be back. I don’t drive over here every day for nothing. I’ll be back here to check in on them, but I’ve made some really good friendships around here,” Gibson said. “Rainier’s been a great place to work for me. They’ve stuck by me through some very difficult times. That’s rare. You’re not just an employee number. You’re actually a person. That makes a huge difference.”
The Rainier Round-Up Days Parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, and the following festivities include a cornhole tournament, local vendors and the 30th annual Rainier Bluegrass Festival from 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
