During his 40-plus years at MetraPark, Bill Dutcher was able to find delight in every day Dutcher remarked, smiling, during a recent interview with.
The Billings Gazette and 406mtsports.com. “What I’m most proud of is that I had fun every day.” I haven’t been bored for a single minute in over 40 years, and that makes me happy.”
Dutcher started working as a part-time employee at the huge entertainment, tradeshow, and community event campus during the fair in the summer of 1980.
During the fair week in 1981, he was employed full-time, and for the following 40 years, he worked in a variety of roles ranging from cleaning to management.
Dutcher is presently the 189-acre facility’s general manager, a job he has held since 2006.
The 69-year-old Lincoln, Nebraska native has resided in Billings since he was seven years old when his family relocated when his father, Jim Dutcher, accepted a position as physical education and sports director with Billings Public Schools.
About Bill Dutcher
The 1970 Billings Senior High School alumnus, who eventually graduated from Rocky Mountain College in 1991 after completing his final classes while working at MetraPark, will leave MetraPark on December 31.
The Billings Hotel and Convention Center will host a retirement event on Friday, December 10, from 4 to 7 p.m.
The public is welcome to attend the event.”All of the lovely individuals, full-time and part-time employees, and board members over the years,” Dutcher said of the memories he’ll take with him. “The various county commissioners. All of the clients have been fantastic.
I’ve enjoyed all of the conventions, big and little, and presidential trips over the years. Relationships, people, and our vendors. It’s been a fantastic experience. Beer servers, vendors, bus drivers, and athletes.
All the way around, this is a fantastic people business. “In general, they’ve all been such nice people to work with and alongside to make small, local, regional, and major national events work side by side and get it done.”
Anniversaries at Chase Hawks
Dutcher is married to Sue, and the couple will celebrate their 36th wedding anniversary on December 21. Dutcher quipped that whenever he retires, he won’t have to worry over honoring his anniversary during the Chase Hawks Roughstock Rodeo, which takes place every year around that time.
Dutcher and Sue have two children in Billings: son Michael, 24, and daughter Helen, 28. He intends to remain in Billings and spend more time with his family.
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