Cogdill retires from county after 43 years of service years ago
Staff reporter
He was 18 years old. This was his first real job. He hand-patched roads and was a laborer. Within a few years, he was promoted to culvert foreman.
Now 43 years later, that 18-year-old boy is retiring from Marion County Road and Bridge Department.
Marion resident James Cogdill, whom everyone knows as Butch, has seen a lot of changes since he started in 1962.
"There was one loader in the department which was used for patching," said Cogdill, "so culverts were set by hand."
Since it was a labor-intensive job, there were more employees who did the work. Now Cogdill is a one-man department.
Forty years ago, there were more blacktop or hard-surfaced roads.
"Road oil was cheap," said Cogdill. "There were probably 300 or more miles of blacktop. Now there's about 200."
Jim Herzet, road and bridge superintendent, agreed.
"When the price of oil increased, blacktop roads were replaced with rock," said Herzet.
Motor-grader sections have changed during the years.
"There used to be 26 sections," Herzet said, "now there's 14."
With four decades of experience and memories, Cogdill recalled a snow storm in 1979.
"It was New Year's Eve. We worked all day, went to the New Year's Eve dance that evening, and then went back to work after the dance," Cogdill said.
He said the crews worked 36 hours straight, clearing roads and putting down chemical.
"We put in two months' worth of work in one month's time that winter," Cogdill said.
"The county couldn't afford to let all of us off work, so they paid us," said Herzet.
Cogdill did more than dig and set culverts, patch roads, and clear snow. He and other crew members have assisted county officials with other tasks.
He recalled an instance when the county winch truck was utilized, with Cogdill at the controls, to assist officials in dragging Marion County Lake. Someone had drowned and the winch truck was utilized in searching for the body.
The winch truck and employee also were utilized to assist Marion County Sheriff's Department to recover stolen property. Herzet and Cogdill also recalled an instance when a county dump truck was used to haul stolen ammunition to the sheriff's office to be used as evidence.
"Before the courthouse had an elevator, we were called to carry disabled people to the courtroom," said Cogdill. Crews also assisted with transporting files to the attic for storage.
Now the courthouse has an elevator that is utilized by disabled people and staff.
So, what does a person do after working at the same job day after day for 40 years?
"I plan to work on my house, fish, hunt, and travel in the spring," said Cogdill.
Wife Mary Lou also plans to retire in a few weeks from Duckwall's of Marion.
Cogdill will miss the job and appreciates the experience.
"I've enjoyed working here and have good bosses," he said.
Herzet said Cogdill will be missed.
"Butch has been a pleasure to work with," said Herzet, who started 32 years ago with the county.
Cogdill's last day with the county was Friday. Herzet said a replacement will be hired.
The Cogdills have three children — LaShelle, Andrew, and Justin; three grandchildren, Alex, Rand, and Austin; and are expecting their first great-grandchild in February.
