By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Thirty-five people wished retiring Hillsboro city administrator Larry Paine a warm farewell at a reception Monday at Hillsboro city hall.

Others online joined the celebration.

“We’re here to celebrate a lifetime, not just 12 years of public service,” mayor Lou Thurston said.

Thurston said he was thankful to have had the opportunity to learn under Paine’s instruction.

“When I became mayor almost three years ago, I was confident I could do it because I had an experienced city administrator,” Thurston said. “Three weeks later he collapsed on the steps of the statehouse. When he was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer, he promised me two years.”

Paine choked up when he stood to say his own farewells.

“It doesn’t happen without everybody pitching in,” he said.

Paine gave five months’ notice when he announced his retirement in late January, saying he wanted to retire before being forced to do so by poor health.