Gallup reflects on 47 years

PONTIAC – They say love what you do and you’ll never work a day. That could be said of Kenny Gallup, a longtime tractor mechanic at KSR Equipment John Deere in Pontiac.

Gallup was honored on Friday by friends, customers and co-workers for spending almost 47 years at the same job. Gallup, of Emington, officially retires at the end of the month. He worked for what was formerly Gardner Sales and Services before the name changed years later.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s been that many years – they went pretty fast,” Gallup told The Central Illinois Farm Network.

What keeps a person at the same job that many years? Gallup says it gives you something to do. Plus, the people and atmosphere are enjoyable. Gallup has seen some big changes over the years all the way from the old 4020 John Deere tractors to the new computerized equipment.

Gallup says he doesn’t have any big retirement plans so far. Longtime KSR Equipment salesman Bill Kallas retired earlier this year.