Four-Decade Employee Retires from CITY

 

After 44 years of service at CITY Laundering Co., Rick Buhr announced his retirement. Buhr’s last day was March 1, 2018.

 

Buhr started at CITY in July of 1973 after he responded to a newspaper advertisement. After interviewing for the position, he began two days later as a route service representative. He serviced clients as a route rep in northeast Iowa for 25 years.

 

“My idea of a good job was some place I could drive a truck, listen to the radio, and they pay for the gas,” Buhr said. “My advice is if you don’t like what you do for a living, make a change.”

 

Buhr was later promoted to a route supervisor position for the next 18 years, followed by three years in sales.

 

“Now it’s 44-and-a-half years later and [CITY] is the only job I’ve ever had,” Buhr added.

 

Over those four decades, Buhr has been one of the few employees to work with all four generations of Wetlaufers, including Herb, Roger B., Roger J., and current CITY President Colin Wetlaufer. Buhr also reflected on how much CITY has changed over the past four decades.

 

“At the time I started, the main business was personal laundry,” Buhr said. “The uniform rental business was just starting to take off, but now it’s a huge part of the business.”

 

Buhr said he has enjoyed his career at CITY, and that he will miss the relationships he has made with clients and coworkers the most.

 

“I’ve ended up getting to know some people as friends and have gotten to know their kids, and have gone to weddings and graduations. Which is kind of a neat thing, that you get to know them that well that you can talk to them, and it’s not only a business relationship,” Buhr said.

 

Although he will miss everyone, Buhr said it’s time he slowed down a bit and spent more time relaxing at his cabin with friends, family, and his two cats, Tom and Jerry.

 

“It’s been a good ride,” Buhr said. “Life goes on, and I’ve decided to retire.”

 

“Rick has had a tremendous impact on this company, and he will be greatly missed,” President Colin Wetlaufer said. “No one has trained more route reps than Rick, and his legacy will continue on.”

 

Buhr also left some words of wisdom for his coworkers at CITY. The motto that helped Buhr lead a successful career is:

 

 

“If you have time to do it over, then you have time to do it right the first time.”