Onaway road commission fixture retires after 40 years

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

More than four decades of service to the Presque Isle County Road Commission came to a close Tuesday, as foreman Larry Dittmar?s retirement day arrived. He has worked in the Onaway garage since March 11, 1971.

Dittmar, 66, was hired by former foreman Leigh Russell and started as low man on the totem pole, picking up roadside trash and plowing roads. He was hired on the heels of record snowfall, but remembers, ?there was still a lot of snow to work with.? He worked his way through the ranks, and in 1992, when Eric Rose took the superintendent-manager job in Rogers City, Dittmar was given the foreman job, February 1, 1993.

Rose, who worked with Dittmar for more than 30 years, 20 a as a coworker, was ?one of the most dependable and dedicated people I?ve ever known in my life. If Larry told you he was going to do something it got done. He lived, ate and slept the road commission, it was his life.?

Dittmar enjoyed his working with the county years, especially the flexibility the work schedule of four, 10-hour day work weeks offered, so he could tend to a bean plot at home. ?That worked out pretty good,? said Dittmar, sitting at his desk one final time this week.

CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT-manager Jerry Smigelski said Larry was not only dedicated to the job, bu

t dedicated to ?keeping the roads safe for the public.? He put in more hours than he was paid and was always ?very friendly. He always waved to everyone,? said Smigelski.

Dittmar has no specific plans, now that his retirement days are upon him. ??I don?t know, whatever comes along,? said Dittmar. During his leisure, he might want to see if his ?special sunglasses still fit.?

Rose said Dittmar was always an easy target for pranks. ?He was a lot of fun to pull pranks, ? Rose said with a laugh in his voice. ?He was a little on the gullible side. I pulled a lot of pranks on Larry over the years.?

Rose said, if anyone sees Dittmar in public in the coming days and weeks, ?ask him about his special sunglasses. Every time we get together we talk about and laugh about them.? And, if you do see Larry, don?t forget to wish him the best in retirement.

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