In 1985, Bobby Ingram started as a meter reader for the City of Tallassee. Four decades later, he holds the key to the city.
In 1985, Ronald Regan was inaugurated for his second term as U.S. President and would be the first president to meet a Soviet leader in decades. Born in the USA was released by Bruce Springsteen. Back to the Future was released. Cherry Coke was introduced, so was New Coke and soon pulled back. Michael Jordan was named NBA Rookie of the Year. Super Mario Brothers was introduced by Nintendo. That same year, Ingram started to work for the City of Tallassee as a meter reader in the utilities department.
Forty years later, Ingram was given the key to the city as he celebrated his retirement. But just because Ingram is retiring doesn’t mean he plans to rest anytime soon.
“I plan to hunt more until the season is gone,” Ingram said. “I’ve also got an older vehicle that belonged to my uncle that I want to restore. I’m gonna get busy working on it now that I finally have time to restore it.”
Ingram worked with electricians when he took the job with the city. It was the place of employment for his father.
“I was looking for more money,” Ingram said. “There was an opening. I applied and got it.”
Five years later Ingram moved from driving a truck around reading meters to the city’s water filter treatment next to the Fitzpatrick Bridge.
From there he watched history write itself with his own eyes. Ingram watched generations of almost every make and model drive across the bridge. He watched parades. Ingram was at the plant when a helicopter ran into nearby powerlines in 2001. One survived and two died as part of the helicopter fell into the Tallapoosa River.
Ingram was called into work in 2016 when the East Tallassee Mill caught fire. The water treatment plant was just yards away from the blaze.
“I’ve seen a few things over the years,” Ingram said.
He was honored by the Tallassee City Council and Mayor Sarah Hill.
“We are going to miss him,” Hill said. “He’s such a great person and asset to our community.”