After what will be 38 years of working for Manatts, Wally Rohrer has decided to retire from being the manager at the Victor concrete plant.

Wally started working for Manatts in 1965 driving a mixer truck. In the early 70’s he took the job as manager of the Victor Concrete Plant when Les Ocheltree came over to the Brooklyn office to run the Products operation.

Wally and his truck are quite the pair! His favorite mixer, which he’s driven since 1973, is a Model B64 Mack truck.

Wally tells us that this truck was purchased in 1964 with a dump box and was used to help build the interstate. In 1973, the company switched the truck to a mixer and Wally has been driving it ever since!

Now, before you feel too sorry for Wally and his old truck, he couldn’t be talked into a new one! Dave Lemley talks about the time he tried to take Wally a new truck and Wally made him turn around and take it right back to Brooklyn! When asked why he never wanted a new truck, his comment was that both he and the truck are old fashioned and he just never wanted a newer truck. Old friends stick together! It doesn’t seem fit to stick Wally’s friend with a new driver, so after 30 years of service to this company, Wally’s mixer will also be retired!

When asked about some of his memories over the years Wally couldn’t help but tell the Chester Freshour “sow-in-the-well” story. Wally remembers the time he had to haul water in his mixer out to Chester Freshour’s house to help rescue one of Chester’s sows that had fallen into his well. A Brooklyn truck, along with Wally’s, pumped the well full of water to float the sow to the top. This story has a happy ending because that evening the sow had 13 piglets, and they all lived!

After 38 years of service, Manatt’s is sad to see Wally retire. He’s been an exemplary employee. In fact, he has earned several safety awards over the years from the IRMCA. This is quite an honor for always working safely at his job.

After retirement Wally plans to do more fishing in his spare time. He also plans to work part time at the plant for awhile. He said it would feel good to go home when he wanted and not have a plant or customers to worry about!

Thanks for 38 years of dedication and service Wally! We’ll miss you!

Wally With His "Old" Friend
B64 Mack Truck