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Farewell set for Hutchinson Wednesday (June 25)

Call it a roast… a celebrity gala…a lifetime tribute… a bon voyage sendoff… or just an old-fashioned retirement party…

Friends and colleagues will assemble next week to say good-bye to Steve Hutchinson as he trades the panoramic view from his second-story Headquarters office for the vistas of golf greens. The departing chief engineer reportedly believes, “the worst day spent golfing is still far better than the best day spent working.”

Co-workers invite Steve’s friends to “join us for cake and fun as we celebrate his many accomplishments and send him on his way.” The farewell will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday (June 25) in the auditorium at Headquarters. His last official day at ITD will be Friday (June 27).

The invitation lists his favorite pastime as golf, his favorite television show as M*A*S*H, his favorite car as the Lamborghini and his favorite movie as Star Wars. In reality, Steve’s favorite TV show is live coverage of the PGA, his favorite car is a golf cart and his favorite movie is "Caddyshack."

Hutchinson was part of the department’s implementation of management systems and the introduction of maintenance management systems in 1976 when he worked in the Operations Management Systems section.

During his 36 years at ITD, he also worked on the Perrine Bridge over the Snake River at Twin Falls, Horseshoe Bend Hill and the Connector (Interstate-184) that carries traffic from I-84 into Boise.

“Who would have thought at that time, while I was tying my tie to go to a meeting with District Engineer Howard Johnson that I would have made it to chief engineer?” he asked rhetorically when announcing in April his intent to retire.

“It has been an interesting and unique 36 years since May 15, 1972.

“The engineering and management have been great, but the most rewarding aspect of the last 36 years has been the opportunity to meet and work with some of the most remarkable people ever to serve in state government. I have been trained and tutored by some very talented people at all levels, and my success has been in large part due to the insights that I received from each and every one of them. It is the people that I am going to miss the most as I take this next step in my life.

“Susan and I have great plans for our future. One of my goals is to fix my handicap, which will require much more attention than I have been able to give recently. We also intend to travel and take full advantage of the fact that all of our children and grandchildren live close by.”

ITD Deputy Director Scott Stokes recently announced the selection of District 6 Engineer Tom Cole as Hutchinson’s successor.

Please set aside time Wednesday afternoon to drop by and wish Steve the best as he begins writing a new chapter of his life.