Augustine Ochs retired Friday after almost 39 years working for the city of Washington.
But most don’t know him by that name. Let me start over.
After almost 39 years with the City of Washington, Lucky retired Friday.
Lucky Ochs, 63, has been working for the city with the Street Department, mostly keeping it clean. He has been working on the back of a garbage hauler for all 39 years.
Amazingly, for most of those 39 years, Lucky has only called in sick for about three days.
“I missed a day or two but I wasn’t really sick,” Lucky said.
Those days that he had to take were for a cut he sustained on the job (he couldn’t come back to work until it healed) and for a dental appointment.
Since he did not like using sick days, Lucky has reported to work during blizzards, rain, searing heat, cold, wind, and anything else that a man working the back of a garbage hauler would find.
Lucky started working with the city in 1971, before the city had hydraulic trash packers — when trash was hauled and dumped by hand.
“You had to scoop it by hand out of the pickup and reunload it again,” Lucky said. “There wasn’t no bags then too. A lot has changed.”
Lucky said the worst weather he’s ever worked through was not last year’s snow, but during the Blizzard of 1978.
“I remember Williams Drug Store on Main Street you had to scoop (the trash) by hand,” Lucky said. “All the front doors were frozen on Main. That was bad. The worst I’ve ever been.”
Also back then, Lucky and other city workers had to deal with animals. He recalled one time where he opened the lid and, “there it was, staring back at me.”
“I saw those teeth and I said ‘There ain’t no way,’” Lucky said.
On Monday, Mayor Larry Haag, along with Street Department Superintendent Ernie Evans, presented Lucky with a gold watch for his years of service to the city.
Haag called Lucky an “icon” of the city.
“We all hope to give the years of service that he has given,” Haag said. “We hope we are that privileged to put in the service that he has done for the 39-plus years.”
Evans started working for the city in 1997 with Lucky on the back of a garbage hauler. He’s told Lucky at times to go home before when he was so sick.
“They do it in all weather and he’s been there doing this for 39 years,” Evans said. “If we would have taken him off the trash truck, he would have quit.”
Fred Kellar, one of Lucky’s coworkers on the Street Department, said he remembers him as a child.
“I was 8-1/2 years old living on Greenwood Street and there was Lucky, working,” Kellar said. “Now, I am working with him.”
Lucky’s son Gus has also worked for the street department for several years.
To keep busy, Lucky said he will work in antiques, something that he has done part-time while working at the city.
“I’m going to keep busy, I imagine,” Lucky said.
But to keep his health up, he plans to keep walking, much as he has done all these years behind a garbage hauler.
“I got to find something to do,” Lucky said. “If I have to go out and walk the town, that’s what I will do.”
Along with another hobby, singing.
“I was a singer long ago,” Lucky said. “I sing at karaoke and other places.”
But until Friday, Lucky continued to do what he has always done.
“I’ve got to get back to work,” he said after the interview.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Photo by Nate Smith
Discussion
'Lucky' ends 39-year run at city
- Local News
-
-
Petersburg men arrested in truck wash armed robbery
An Indiana State Police investigation into the Jan. 29 armed robbery at Blue Beacon Truck Wash located near U.S. 41 and I-64 has prompted criminal charges being filed against Larry Nathaniel Davis, 26, and Branden Joe Walburn, 26, both from Petersburg. Felony warrants were issued yesterday afternoon for their arrests. At approximately 11:30 Tuesday night, Indiana State Police executed the warrants and arrested Davis and Walburn without incident.
-
Taking care of those who took care of you
With people living longer in today’s society, more and more adult children are faced with helping their aging parents make difficult decisions about their living situations.
-
Senior and Family Services ready to help
Senior and Family Services of Washington has a magnitude of services available, according to Executive Director Jill Cecil.
-
Free senior seminars
From March through November a one-hour seminar will be offered beginning at 10:30 a.m. on the last Thursday of each month at the Washington senior center, 211 E. Main St
-
Important Phone Numbers for Seniors
Important Phone Numbers
Washington Senior Center 254-1881/1-800-536-1881
Odon Senior Center 636-4722
Petersburg Senior Center 354-8727
Winslow Senior Center 789-9405
Ride Solution 254-3225/1-800-369-8899
Generations 888-5880/1-800-742-9002 -
Pot, cash found during stop
Two men were arrested Tuesday morning by Indiana State Police troopers for dealing in marijuana over 30 grams, a Class D felony.
-
WHS NJROTC does well at local meet
Washington High School’s Jordan Andry flips a rifle during the WHS Hatchet Drill Meet on Saturday.
-
Foggy sunrise
The sun begins to burn off the early morning fog southeast of Washington as seen from behind Griffith Elementary Tuesday.
-
Council fields questions on solid waste
Hazel Fuhrman approached the Martin County Council Monday asking questions about the $24 user fee the Solid Waste District wants to impose.
-
Seidel crowned WC's homecoming queen
Madison Seidel, daughter of Jane and Richard Seidel of Washington, was crowned 2012 Washington Catholic Homecoming Queen at the Birdcage on Saturday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
