Deputy Reeve Jack Wilson of Rural Municipality of Moose Mountain No. 63 says the R.M. not only has big shoes left to fill, 鈥渂ut a few pairs.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Wilson is referring to the retirements of administrator Ron Matsalla of Carlyle and grader operator Wade Fox of Manor - who between them, have a combined 57 years of experience on the job, with Matsalla's public service career totalling 34 陆 years and Fox's totalling 22 陆 years.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Both men were honoured at a celebration supper catered by Weirs of Manor, Friday, June 15 at the Carlyle Memorial Hall, with family and friends, as well as reeves, councillors and constituents in attendance.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Master of Ceremonies Jack Wilson summed up each man's career, adding: 鈥淚t is with mixed feelings that we are here to say 'Happy Retirement' to two long-serving and dedicated employees of the R.M. 63.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲ade Fox started in May 1996 as our mower man, but soon took over the grader in November 1996,鈥� says Wilson. 鈥淥ne would say that grader operators are a breed of their own. Wade has been with us for 22 years. If one is to analyze his career, Wade has been through four reeves and 22 councillors in total.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲ade mentored under and worked beside Larry Slykhuis for 17 years,鈥� adds Wilson. 鈥淎fter Larry's retirement, Wade took over as foreman and passed on his knowledge to new employees.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲ade has always had a positive attitude and good work ethic.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淩on Matsalla started on January 16, 1984 and worked under Rita Gauthier,鈥� says Wilson. 鈥淩on worked 34 陆 years as the R.M. Administrator. Ron followed in his father's footsteps as an adminstrator. As a young lad, he did odd jobs around he office for his dad. After interning for his dad, Ron came to Carlyle.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲hen Ron started, there were no computers,鈥� says Wilson. 鈥淟edgers were all hand-written and to make copies of things, one would have to crank them out on a Gestetner, whereas today, he has a computer and a push-button copier.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淩on's dedication to his work was above and beyond.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hroughout his career, Ron has helped manage seven grader operators, and three maintenance men. He has worked under five reeves and 38 councillors.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎nd we can't forget Ron's hockey career with the Carlyle Cougars,鈥� adds Wilson. 鈥淗e was also on the R.M.'s curling team which won two provincial curling championships and a SARM (Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities) competition in 1990.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎s I was looking over the history of the R.M., it was incorporated in 1912,鈥� says Wilson. 鈥淩on came close to serving with the R.M. for around one-third of that time, which is a great accomplishment.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Former Reeve Arnold Lawrence was one of the evening's speakers who paid tribute to both men.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲ade did an excellent job and I never heard one complaint, which is a record in itself.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 worked with Ron for five years as a councillor and 15 years as Reeve,鈥� says Lawrence. 鈥淎t one point, he was ready to hand in his resignation, because he wanted to be home with his friends and his dad,鈥� says Lawerence. 鈥淚 told him at that time that his friends were here in Carlyle - where he curled, played hockey, worked in the community and more.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淪o he decided to stay,鈥� says Lawrence. 鈥淏ut the surprising part is he's got his resignation in again!鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎nd you're not talking me out of it this time!鈥� replied Matsalla to laughter from the crowd.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Both men expressed their gratitude to their families, friends and everyone involved in their careers, with Fox giving a special thank you to his wife, Teresa and their family and Matsalla saying:聽 鈥淵ou're going to hear a lot of 'thank yous' from me tonight,鈥� followed by a humourous and heartfelt聽 speech thanking family, friends and the community 鈥渇or welcoming us like you did.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Wilson summed the men's retirements this way: 鈥淲e are all grateful to Wade and Ron for your dedication to the R.M,鈥� says Wilson.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽鈥淲e want to wish you both the best retirement.鈥�
