After nearly 44 years as a Traffic Signal Technician for the Alabama Department of Transportation, George Benny Ellis has given the green-light on retirement.

“Benny has been the heart and soul of this department,” said 7th Division Engineer Mike Griffin.

Friends, family and coworkers filled a hangar in the maintenance section of the DOT in Troy Wednesday, to honor Benny and enjoy a cookout with hamburgers and baked beans.

After John Carroll Dunn, 7th Division Maintenance Engineer, opened the floor, several people at the luncheon stood up and shared memories they had collected working with Benny over the years.

“Anything you ask of him he gets done,” Griffin said. “He’s organized, skilled and a very good supervisor, the people here now have all trained behind Benny.”

The retiring Transportation Technologist only had his colleagues to thank.

“It’s been a special blessing to meet the people I’ve come into contact with,” Ellis said, adding that he had developed some good relationships.

“Thank you for your confidence and being the people you are, it’s been fun,” he told the room.

Ellis said the decision to move on was not an easy one to make.

“I’m going to miss the people I work with and I do enjoy the job,” he said.

But he does have plenty to keep him occupied after his departure.

“We have a cattle and hay farm and I hope me and my wife can do some traveling,” he said.