Dowdy retires from WYDOT maintenance crew

Russ Dowdy has retired from the Wyoming Department of Transportation after 24 years with the Thermopolis maintenance crew.

"It's been a good run," Dowdy said at his retirement luncheon on Sept. 21.

Dowdy was born in Greeley, Colo. He graduated from Hot Springs County High School in Thermopolis in 1973. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1973-77 at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Okinawa, Japan, and Camp LeJeune, N.C. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant.

Dowdy joined the Wyoming Department of Transportation in 1994 as an equipment operator. He was later promoted to heavy equipment operator, and in 2009 he was promoted to maintenance foreman.

Prior to WYDOT, Dowdy worked for the Hot Springs Rural Electric Association in Casper and Thermopolis as an equipment operator and journeyman lineman.

Clint Huckfeldt, the area maintenance crew supervisor, said Dowdy was a very hard working kind of guy, and very pro-active in keeping the highway system up and going. Huckfeldt further added Dowdy would always look at things he could catch in their infancy - whether it be a tree branch blocking a sign or a pothole forming - and take care of them before they grew into bigger problems.

Heavy equipment operator Shane Wilson, who's worked with Dowdy the past 18 years, described him as a good person to work with, a good family man and someone who cares about his community.

Most of the 18 years they spent together, Wilson said, they were working side by side, until Dowdy stepped into the foreman position and Wilson worked under him.

There were a lot of times when the crews put in several hours, Wilson noted, but Dowdy was always upbeat and happy. He was one who cared about his crew members "and took care of us really well," Wilson said. "He'll truly be missed around here."