Crowder honored with retirement party in Malta

William Crowder's 27 years as a member of the Malta City Council came to a close at the last meeting of 2015 and last Tuesday he was honored with a retirement party featuring cake, beverages, about 30 people and a plaque which stated:

"Thank you for 27 years of service to the City of Malta, your dedication is appreciated. January, 1988 to December, 2015."

Malta Mayor Shyla Jones thanked Crowder for his four decades of service to Malta and said she had learned a lot from him, starting as far back as she could remember.

"I have known Bill forever and I grew up at his house and going to Council meetings with him since I was a very young girl," said Mayor Jones. "Today we are celebrating 27 years of Bill being on the Council and personally, I don't know how he did it that long because it is not an easy job."

Mayor Jones said Crowder was dedicated to the City of Malta and thanked his family for sharing him for two Tuesdays, every month – at the very least – for all those years.

"He has helped me a lot," Mayor Jones added. "He sat next to me at the Council table and he would always kind of give me info on the things I didn't have a clue about, keeping me up on terms and things like that, so I just want to say 'thank you' for what he has done for me personally and what he has done for the city for the last 27 years, we appreciate it so much."

The party was held at Malta City Hall's auditorium and those in attendance included current council members David Rummel and Bonnie Wiederrick as well as two of Crowder's children – Larry and Darla – and his wife, Darl.

"He will stay busy one way or the other," Darl said of the City Council retirement, "But I think he has enjoyed it. He has always shown an interest in it and it has been good."

Crowder recently said that he would now spend most of his free time gardening and Darl said he is well suited for the task.

"He has always done most of the gardening," she admitted. "I always help pick it...but he has the green thumb."