The Idaho Transportation Board will pause Tuesday during its meeting in Boise to acknowledge the contributions of nearly 50 employees who reached service milestones in the last half of 2003. The Service Awards ceremony, which typically draws an overflow crowd of well-wishing colleagues, will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the auditorium at Headquarters.

ITD employees will be honored for outstanding service to the department and citizens of Idaho, ranging from five to 30 years. The patriarch of the group is Robert Newell of the Bridge Section who is the only employee reaching the 30-year plateau in late 2003.

Sixteen employees will mark their fifth year, seven have reached 10 years and 12 have completed 15 years. Six employees celebrate two decades of employment and five have reached the quarter-century mark.

In addition, eight employees who have turned the corner on their professional careers and embarked on retirement pursuits will be honored for their service. Collectively, the eight retired employees represent 247 years of service, or an average of nearly 31 years each. David Jennings holds the longest tenure of the retirees with 44 years of employment – he began working at ITD in the era of President John F. Kennedy, baseball legend Mickey Mantle and Oscar winner Ben Hur.

Board member Bruce Sweeney, representing District 2, will open the awards presentation with short remarks. He will be followed by comments from ITD Director Dave Ekern.

Chief Engineer Jim Ross will present the Maintenance Person of the Year award to District 4’s Chuck Chapin and the Safety Person of the Year honor to Rex Hufford of Headquarters.

Ekern will acknowledge 12 individuals for their United Way participation level by presenting the Heroes of Hope Governor’s Award.

A reception, sponsored by the Headquarters employee group DOROLCO, will follow the awards ceremony in the lobby. ITD employees, along with family members and friends of recipients, are welcome to attend the event as a way of honoring their colleagues.