TIFTON — After 25 years of service, Tifton public works director Ricky Hobby has retired.

City council members bid him farewell in his retirement on behalf of the city during their Jan. 16 meeting, seeing him off with a gift and well wishes.

Hobby began working with the city in 1998 as parks and cemetery supervisor in the Public Works department. He was promoted to solid waste director in 2005, where he continued to work until his retirement.

During the meeting, HR director Jocelyn Paulk proudly recounted how involved Hobby had been with city projects and development during his years of service, praising his leadership skills, eagerness to help, and dedication to his colleagues and his city.

“Mr. Ricky has exemplified what it has meant to be a great director and to be a team player in the department that he is in,” Paulk said. “We want to thank him for his twenty-five years.”

Paulk presented Hobby with a plaque honoring his service to the city and contribution to the community’s success, proudly stating that employees like him were “the foundation to any successful organization and team.”

Hobby thanked the city for taking care of him and his family, who were present for his retirement ceremony, and mayor Julie Smith in turn thanked him for his hard work, deeming it an honor and a privilege to have worked with him all these years.