Saturday will be proclaimed Rick Shannon Day

After 34 years working in the Public Works Department for Bonney Lake, Rick Shannon has decided to retire.

Mayor Neil Johnson signed a proclamation naming Saturday “Rick Shannon Day” in Bonney Lake.

“Rick has been one of the rock employees for 34 years,” Johnson said. “He will be missed.”

The 55-year-old assistant public works director plans to take some time to relax and “I’ll look at a couple of part-time offers from engineering firms.”

One of those part-time offers will likely be from the city of Bonney Lake and his replacement, Charlie Simpson.

Shannon’s work story is a history lesson on the past three decades in Bonney Lake.

He started as a summer hire in 1972 while he was attending Green River Community college.

“I needed a summer job and City Hall was just being built,” Shannon said.

He ran out of money for school and went full-time in 1973. Shannon left for a short time in 1979 to work for a contractor, but returned by 1980. He worked his way up from a maintenance worker to a operations supervisor to his current position.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes,” Shannon said. “The best part I was part of those changes.”

When Shannon started there were four employees in Public Works, “two in water and two on street,” he said.

Today 38 employees work for Shannon.

Sam Roseberry has worked with Shannon for the past 26 years and he knows what Bonney Lake is losing.

“He’s been great,” Roseberry said. “He started out as one of the guys and he’s always willing to jump in and help. I’m sorry to see him go. Our families grew up together. We’ve celebrated birthdays and holidays together. It’s been a good time.”

Shannon has seen eight mayors in his 34 years and 11 public works directors.

Carl Whistler was the first mayor he worked for and he also worked for mayors Allan Yorke and Steve Flaherty.

Flaherty is now a community service officer in the Bonney Lake Police Department.

Shannon has been married for 33 years to his wife Lynne and they have two daughters, Kara and Breanne, and three grandchildren.

Shannon said when he finally walks away he plans to “play some golf and fish and do that for a little while and see how it goes. It’s going to be hard to leave.”

There will be a citywide retirement party for Shannon from 4 to 6 p.m. today, Wednesday, at the Bonney Lake Senior Center.

Reach Dennis Box at dbox@courierherald.com or 360-802-8209.