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Ransom Granick, affectionately known as “Pooh,” began his first stint working with Lowndes County on June 7, 1976. On Dec. 31, he will end his 48-year career with the county in retirement.

The man who has served his community for nearly half a century said his career has been a labor of love.

“I just love what I do,” he said. “It’s fun when you’re trying to figure out what is wrong with something. I can be aggravating, but it’s also fun.”

Granick worked as a contract employee from June 1976 to Dec. 1980 and again from Jan. 1981 to May 1984. He came on board as a full-time employee May 21, 1984, working nonstop since then in a variety of roles, but most importantly as the county’s “go-to” guy.

“He can do anything from electrical to mechanical,” said 40-year veteran Lowndes County Commissioner Dickson Farrior. “When he was a child, I understand he could take an air conditioner or fan apart and put it back together. He’s a smart person and has been an asset to the county many years.

“We’re going to miss him. There’s no telling how much money he has saved the county. I can’t say enough about how great he has been for the county.”

When asked about his title, “Pooh” said he had worn many hats.

“That’s a good question,” he reflected. “In the budget, they say I’m a courthouse technician. On the purchase orders, they say electrician. I do a little bit of everything because I do heating and air, electrical lighting, some of everything.”

A Lowndes County native, Granick grew up in Lowndesboro and has lived on the same property since June 15, 1960, when he was just two years old. Nearby are his brother David and sister-in-law Robin Granick.

Granick began working for the county as part of the highway department survey crew. When the crew was dissolved around 1980, he began repairing lights, heating and air conditioning and other building maintenance components, eventually earning an associate’s degree in industrial maintenance from Trenholm State Community College (then Patterson State Technical College) and then a second associate’s degree in industrial electronics.

Lowndes County Sheriff Chris West said his department and many others have benefited from Granick’s work.

“Pooh does work for the health department, the board of education and mental health,” West said. “Anyone who needs help with something, Pooh is going to come and help get done whatever it is. He’s just a go-to guy.”

The County voted to advertise the position Granick will leave vacant, but most who know the man who spent the better part of his life serving his community agree his shoes are difficult to fill.

“You won’t find another like him,” said County Administrator Jacquelyn Thomas. “He’s one of a kind and trying to find somebody to replace him is going to be hard, I would say, nearly impossible, because he went above and beyond the call of duty for whatever we needed him to do. He’s just an all-around good person.”

In addition to his work with the county, Granick served as a volunteer firefighter with the Hayneville Volunteer Fire Department for 23 years. In retirement, he hopes to complete a few projects at home, like learning to master his ham radio and put his amateur radio license to use.”.

Farrior said Granick will be missed by all who counted on his services to keep operations running smoothly.

“He’s a brilliant person,” Farrior said. “We were lucky to have him, and he has done so much for the county. It’s probably going to take two or three people to replace him.”