Hudson retires after 25 years with Street Department

For the first time in nearly 30 years, Jack Hudson will be able to enjoy the snow.

That's because as of Feb. 28, he's retired.

"I'll look out the window and just let it fall," Hudson joked.

Hudson started working for the Street Department in 1990. He was responsible for streets, golf courses, lakes and pretty much "anything the (Property Owners Association) wanted," which oversaw street maintenance at the time.

"My nephew worked there about 14 years and he coaxed me over," Hudson said, who was working as a maintenance man for a grocery store in Missouri. Hudson still lives in Missouri, but made the commute to Bella Vista. He said he enjoyed the variety of work offered by the Street Department.

During Hudson's 25 years with the department, he saw some of the harshest winters slam Bella Vista. Hudson was on-call during the 2004 and 2011 storms, the latter of which was dubbed "snowmageddon."

"I wanna' say 2004 was probably the worst," Hudson said. "We had about eight inches of sleet and two inches of snow. It stayed cold for about three weeks before thawing."

Due to nagging arthritis and pressure from his family, Hudson found it best to retire after this last bout with Old Man Winter.

"My biggest problem is that I've got arthritis in about every joint," he said. "It's like everybody says: it works on ya'. And I'll be 65 later this month and I just thought it was time for me to give up."

Hudson said his two sons also influenced his decision.

"They felt I worked long enough. And there's nine grand kids, starting from (age) 18 and down," he said. "They're a ways away but I love'em."

Earlier this month, the Street Department threw a farewell luncheon for Hudson.

"They went out of their way. I appreciate all of them," Hudson said, who received a plaque for his service and $250 to "take to the casino."

"I'll miss them," Hudson added. "They're good guys. Great to work with."

Unbeknownst to Hudson, his kids were working behind the scenes with Mayor Peter Christie to help commemorate their father's service to Bella Vista.

"He gave many years of faithful service," Christie said. "I had the privilege of meeting his good wife (Paula). And what impressed me most was the thought put behind the retirement. Both boys put together a nice plaque and asked if there was something they could do for the city as a lasting tribute to their father."

Christie said a suggestion was made to give a gift to the new Street Department facility, which will be built on a 32-acre site on Arkansas Highway 279, near Rogers Drive.

"It's a horticultural gift -- a financial donation to be used to select shrubs, bushes and plants," that will buffer the department from Arkansas 279, Christie said.

"(The Street Department) needs (a new facility), they really do," Hudson said. "(Crews) work hard, putting in a lot of hours, some 14 and 16 hour days. And say you get a bad ice storm, well you're there for two or three days."

"I enjoyed my time there, don't get me wrong," Hudson added. "It sounds like fun, but (winter weather) was one of the roughest jobs I had down there. I'll always hold high respect for Bella Vista. They had it tough, but they put their hearts into it. I think the world of them."