Parks leadman retiring after nearly 40 years on the job

scottw@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- Bill Nance started working for Sikeston's Parks Department the same month the first Star Wars movie was released.

Thursday will be Nance's last day on the job as a leadman for the city's Parks, winding up a career with the city spanning 38 and a half years.

His starting date is recorded in city records as May 2, 1977.

"I started on a government program," Nance recalled.

Shortly after the job-training program ended, however, a permanent position opened up when one of the workers at the Sikeston Parks Department quit.

"They called me back to work and I've been here pretty much every since," Nance said.

Nance said he didn't take the job with the idea of beginning a lifelong career, but rather came to realize after being there for a good number of years that it was "a steady job and it has good benefits. I decided to stay -- and that's what I did."

"Bill is an excellent member of the Public Works department," said Jiggs Moore, the city's Parks and Recreation director until Jan. 8 when his retirement becomes effective.

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