Woodward, Okla. — After more than 13 years as public works director and a total of almost 34 years as a Woodward municipal employee, Tom Goff will be retiring as of June 30.

Goff started working for the city of Woodward on Aug. 2, 1976 when he was hired as the assistant water superintendent.

He said he was offered the job by Woodward’s then water superintendent Garrett Mathis.

“I met Garrett at a water school and he asked me if I was interested in coming to Woodward,” Goff said, noting that he was attending the water certification school as training for his previous position with the maintenance department in his hometown of Waynoka.

With a wife and 3 children, Goff said it was the promise of a bigger salary that enticed him to move to Woodward.

“I wanted to try to improve our standard of living,” he said.

In addition to more money, the move to Woodward also ended up offering Goff with advancement opportunities.

“In April of ‘78 I was promoted to water superintendent when Garrett Mathis retired,” he said.  “The next step was a promotion to water and pollution control superintendent in January of 1986.  Then on Sept. 1, 1996, I became the public works director.”

As the public works director, Goff supervises all the department heads and “work(s) with them to plan projects.”

For example, he said he would work with the superintendent of the street department to go over plans for road expansion and renovation projects.

“It’s basically the same thing with pollution control, the water department and the sanitation department,” he said, noting “we’ll talk about costs and the different aspects of the projects.”

Then when the project was under way, Goff said he would usually go by and check on things.

“I don’t inspect them, I just look the project over and if I see something I will go to the architect or engineer,” he said.

Throughout his time with the city, Goff said he is proud to have helped with a number of important municipal projects.

“Over the years we’ve improved Crystal Beach Lake.  We had it drained in 1990, cleaned it out and stocked it with fish.  Then we started putting trout in the lake 6 to 8 years ago.  And we just cleaned the lake out again here this past year and put in fountains,” he said.

“And during my tenure as the water supervisor, we put all new waterlines on 8th Street and south on Williams Avenue,” he said.

Other projects that have stuck with Goff throughout the years including “buil(ding) a new sewer lagoon in 1986 and ‘87” and “acquir(ing) property east of Woodward for irrigation of effluent water and sludge application.”

“But those are just some,” he said, noting that it would be too difficult to discuss all the projects he was involved in because “the rest is too numerous to mention.”

Goff said, “I never dreamed I would be a municipal employee this long,” but noted it was “working under good management all these years.”

“I’ve worked under 7 city managers and they all treated me well,” he said.  “The city has treated me well.”

Overall, Goff said “it’s been fun” working for the city.

“I like working with people and hearing their ideas and try to move forward with what they bring to me.  And of course I like to see projects finished; it makes me feel good to see something completed and know I’ve helped further the health and well being of everyone in the city.”

But while he has enjoyed his 34 years working for the city of Woodward, Goff said there really isn’t anything he’s going to miss about the job.

“I’m looking forward to retirement,” Goff said.

He said one of his main reasons for retiring is age.

“I still want to live and enjoy what I’ve got left,” he said.  “I’ve seen too many people working until they’re too old to get out and enjoy themselves.  I didn’t want to do that.”

“It’s just time for me to hang ‘em up and start a new venture,” Goff said, noting that new venture will include spending more time at the golf course and horseshoe pitch.

In addition, he said he and his wife of 47-years, Barbara, “expect to do some sightseeing and we’re looking forward to being with our kids and grandkids.”

Goff said he has 9 grandchildren ranging in age from 2- to 20-years-old, who live in various locations across Oklahoma.

A retirement reception for Goff will be held June 28 at 2 p.m. at the City Hall complex.