WAYNE’S RETIREMENT CELEBRATED
April 27, 2021
April 27, 2021
Kenneth Wayne Johnson, Cedar Key’s own UPS person, retired today midst a smiling, cheering crowd of approximately fifty appreciative area residents.
This Wayne fan club met at City Hall at 4 pm, the time when Wayne would be ready to leave the island for the last time as the island’s UPS man. Shortly after four, the crowd heard Police Chief Virgil Sandlin in his big, shiny, black Cedar Key Police truck behind Wayne’s UPS truck with siren blasting. Over he pulled Wayne to the front of City Hall. Sandin, jokingly snatched Wayne from the truck and gave him a roust and a “ticket,” both men chuckling throughout.
After wrestling with Sandlin, Wayne hugged and shook hands with many in the crowd. The hugs were followed by Mayor Heath Davis who read the proclamation declaring Wayne an Honorary Cedar Key Resident for life. Davis also anointed Wayne with a “Golden Clam” (of course, a clam) award which he immediately placed around his neck and wore throughout the event.
Vice-Mayor Colson presented Wayne with a clam (of course, a clam) basket full of gifts from the community. Dog biscuits of all sorts and sizes, Cedar Key tee shirts, an original painting signed by many admirers, envelopes with messages within them, more appreciative messages from the Cedar Key School third, fourth, and fifth graders, a small toy bulldozer complete with moving parts, and more gifts filled the basket to the top. Wayne also accepted a number of the well-wishing, good-bye, and congratulatory signs that had been placed by residents along Cedar Key streets; he said they would all find new home in his garage.
Gainesville’s Channel 20 reporter Dylan Lyons interviewed Wayne and the crowd heard all the answers to the questions everyone wanted to hear.
• Wayne’s wife is Ella and rode with him today.
• Ella owns the Bark N Purr Inn in Bronson at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. Cedar Key dog and cat owners swear by this Bark N Purr Inn.
• Wayne has worked for UPS for thirty years.
• Wayne will continue to work at his WJ Bushhogging and Moving business out of Bronson where he does land clearing. The number is 352 221-0950.
• Wayne said he expects to return to the island regularly; he loves the island and its residents.
• Wayne’s wife is Ella and rode with him today.
• Ella owns the Bark N Purr Inn in Bronson at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. Cedar Key dog and cat owners swear by this Bark N Purr Inn.
• Wayne has worked for UPS for thirty years.
• Wayne will continue to work at his WJ Bushhogging and Moving business out of Bronson where he does land clearing. The number is 352 221-0950.
• Wayne said he expects to return to the island regularly; he loves the island and its residents.
• Wayne, when asked what his tenure here has meant to him, he said, “It means the world to me. I appreciate these people. They appreciate me when I come and deliver at 10:30 and 11 at night. And I appreciate them keeping me staying busy and able to care for my family.”
Cedar Key will miss Wayne’s every day smile, wave, and dog biscuits and are certain that they have not seen the last of him.
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