By By Adrienne McKenzie
Allen Nix and Milford Lassitter have spent a little more than the last decade pouring hard work into the city of Atmore.
Lassitter and Nix both spent more than 13 years working at the City Hall as code enforcement officers (building inspectors).
Thursday morning Nix and Lassitter celebrated retiring from City Hall at their joint retirement party. Mayor Howard Shell, councilman John Garrard and many more employees of the city joined to show how much these two men are going to be missed.
Mayor Howard Shell had nothing but good things to say about Nix and Lassitter.
"They have done a fine job and will be missed deeply," Shell said.
Shell allowed both men to keep their keys to City Hall in case they chose to come back.
"The key that you have in your pocket to this building (City Hall) is yours to keep," Shell said to both Nix and Lassitter.
Nix was born in Pigeon Creek and lived in Atmore around 30 years before moving eight years ago to a little town between Bay Minette and Stockton.
For a couple of years Nix worked at the City Hall as a part-time employee, but then began full-time work.
Nix felt that working at the City Hall was very exciting. He also said that both himself and Lassitter did good things for the city.
"It's been an experience," he said. "A lot of people don't realize what goes on. There was never a dull moment. We kept occupied. We got things done for the city that hadn't been done before. We are leaving it a better place than when we got there."
Nix has no plans of settling down soon. He has projects around his home that he wants to start and complete. He also wants to enjoy some time at the river.
"I have several projects around home to finish up and start," he said. "I am going to do some traveling, hunting and fishing. I only live about five minutes from the river. I want to spend time with some of my retired friends."
Lassitter has lived in Atmore since 1955. He spent 13 years and four months at the City Hall.
He is excited to be retiring but he will miss his days as an employee for the city.
"It's sad in a way," he said. "But anybody who has worked as long as I have needs a rest. I couldn't have had a better place to work though. I never had any problems. I'm glad that I'm gone but I'm sad that I'm gone."
Unlike Nix, Lassitter is going to take a break after retirement.
"For the first while I'm going to rest," he said. "When fishing season starts I'm going to fish. Other than that, I'm going to relax."
The two new code enforcement officers are going to be Chris Black and Todd Parker. Both Nix and Lassitter believe that these two men will do a fine job as code enforcement officers.
Nix said that the mayor did a great job of choosing replacements for both himself and Lassitter.
"Those are two good guys taking our place," he said. "They are great men. The mayor did a good job in picking them."
"They are two mighty fine young men," Lassitter said. "They are going to make two good officers."
While both Lassitter and Nix will be missed in the community, after putting so many years into the city they deserve a break and they know that they are welcome back any time for a visit.