During his retirement dinner Friday night, George Lewis
collected a stack of plaques and said goodbye as Hollister city
manager, a job he called the
”
most challenging
”
of several high-profile careers.
The 62-year-old
”
engineer by trade
”
spent his last day on the job Friday after five and a half years
as the city’s top employee.
During his retirement dinner Friday night, George Lewis collected a stack of plaques and said goodbye as Hollister city manager, a job he called the “most challenging” of several high-profile careers.
The 62-year-old “engineer by trade” spent his last day on the job Friday after five and a half years as the city’s top employee.
A gathering of local leaders, business people and friends saluted Lewis at San Juan Oaks Golf Club during a night characterized by a roundabout of anecdotes and goodbyes. The crowd buzzed with high spirits and listened to about a dozen speakers, some of whom “roasted” Lewis in good fun.
“That mustache and sideburns went out of style about 100 years ago,” City Attorney Elaine Cass said.
The notoriously jovial Bill Avera, Hollister’s redevelopment director, said he had anxiously awaited Lewis’ retirement for the past four years – sarcastically, of course.
Avera said he would never forget Lewis’ tendency at Council meetings to bow his head and rub it in frustration.
“Why didn’t he (Lewis) just say what he really thought (of the Councilmember at the meeting)?” Avera said. “Like, how the hell did you get elected?”
The crowd burst into laughter, including Lewis and his wife Barbara.
Although many speakers took advantage of the comic spotlight, each found ways to commend Lewis.
“I absolutely admire and respect George’s intellect,” Cass said.
Mayor Brian Conroy mentioned Lewis’ “unfailing good nature” and read a proclamation pronouncing Jan. 10, 2003 as “George Lewis Day” in Hollister. Lewis then accepted a plaque from the city, one of several awards received at the dinner.
Robert Ornales – representing both the Hollister Recreation Division and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – commended Lewis for his support of youth and recreation in the community.
Fire Chief Bill Garringer gave Lewis credit for the tightly bonded nature of the city staff.
“I’m really going to miss him,” Garringer said.
Finally, Lewis spoke, calling it a “privilege” to work for the City of Hollister.
“This is a wonderful community and wonderful place to live,” Lewis said.
A storied life’s work
Lewis started his career with several different public agencies. He worked for Caltrans after college before joining the Peace Corps and offering his services overseas in East Pakistan, what is now known as Bangladesh.
He then rejoined Caltrans for a couple years before working as a city engineer in Eureka, where he eventually became public works director in 1972.
In 1977 Lewis moved to Hollister and worked in the private sector for 14 years as the first manager at the local branch of M.H. Engineering. Although Lewis referred to the contrasting “make money philosophy” of private business, he made several contributions to public projects during those years.
“Ray Hetherington (former community development director) and I designed the first growth management plan for the city in 1982,” Lewis said.
After Lewis singlehandedly operated his own business – Lewis Engineering – from 1991-96, he landed a job with the City of Hollister as an engineer. In a little more than one year, Lewis went from positions as city engineer to public works director and finally city manager when Barry Johnson resigned. Lewis officially took over the city manager’s job June 2, 1997.
When he took over, Lewis said he was looking to “improve my retirement situation” and only planned to stay three of four years. He continually extended that duration because of a drive to oversee important unfinished business, the most recent being the city’s 15-million gallon sewage spill May 4 and its repercussions.
But Lewis realized he couldn’t keep extending his retirement because key issues would inevitably continue to accumulate.
“You start some things. You finish some things. And some things are left for the next person,” Lewis said.
Lewis walked away proud of several projects initiated during his tenure and mentioned two in particular, the Veterans Memorial Building renovation and the approved conceptual plans for the Civic Center.
“I told Richard Boomer (Councilman at the time), ‘This thing is a real jewel’ (the Veterans building). If somebody doesn’t fix it, it’s going to be gone,” Lewis said.
While city officials continue their search for a permanent successor, Lewis said he would occasionally offer a hand if the city asks, but not too often. For now, he’ll find other activities to stay busy, possibly engineering in some capacity.
“It’s been a good career,” Lewis said.
And telling from the appreciation displayed at Friday’s dinner, it’s been good having him.
