Recognizing 50 winters at IDOT

Recognizing 50 winters at IDOT

Steve Foran has seen 50 winters with IDOT - and may or may not come back for more.

After spending his entire career as a highway maintainer at the District 5 Monticello Team Section in central Illinois, Foran retired in 2006, but has continued to come back year after year as a snowbird.

Foran enjoys the job and the team.

"I like being involved with IDOT and being around the people," he said. "All the guys at Monticello are really good to work with."

He says his winters are generally spent patching roads, cutting brush, maintaining trucks and plowing snow. A mentor in his early days on the job helped set him on the right track.

"When I first started, my foreman's name was Bill Farthing, one of the best men I've ever known. He made it a pleasure to come to work and showed me a great deal."

Foran's advice to new employees eager to learn is simple: Watch and listen to those with experience.

"I've worked for many district engineers, many field engineers and many foremen. We did not always see things the same, but they have always been good people to work for."

Foran said the length of his tenure with the department gives him a sense of accomplishment. Now 69, he's not yet sure if he will come back to IDOT this winter. Outside the office, he stays active.

"I love to go hiking. The Smokey Mountains are my happy place. I've always enjoyed landscaping and yard work. I try to walk 3 to 4 miles a day, and I'm a big sports fan. Go Packers and Illini!"

Coworkers praise Foran's dedication and work ethic.

"Steve was a tremendous asset to the department," said District 5 Operations Engineer Gary Sims. "He was one guy that we could always depend on to answer the call and would do whatever he could to help out."

"I've had the opportunity to work with Steve in my eight seasons as a temp and six years as a full-time employee," said District 5 Highway Maintainer Bradford Shepherd. "Steve has worked at this same team section since he was 18 years old. He worked 32 years as a full-time highway maintainer. Then Steve came back to work another 18 winters as a temp snowbird. I refer to him as an ironman!"