(Photo by Brett Dunlap) Wood County Commissioner Robert Tebay is congratulated by Dottie Enoch at a gathering Thursday honoring Tebay for his service on the commission. Tebay is retiring and stepping down from the commission with Thursday being his last day.

PARKERSBURG — Wood County officials honored Robert Tebay’s 22 years serving the people of the area on his official last day in office on Thursday.

The long-time local businessman and dairy farmer officially stepped down from his position on the Wood County Commission. The commission took care of its regular business, including honoring the three 8th graders who designed voting stickers and dedicated the plaque for the Wood County Resiliency Center and then had a reception for Tebay which was attended by over 50 people from around the county offices and the community.

Tebay served on the commission from Jan 1, 1997, to Dec. 31, 2008, and from Jan. 1, 2015, to the present.

Commission President Blair Couch honored Tebay by speaking of their time together on commission.

“It is a special day for Wood County,” Couch said. “We have one of the best public servants we have ever had.”

(Photo by Brett Dunlap) Wood County Commissioner Robert Tebay speaks with friends, family and supporters Thursday as Tebay is retiring from the commission with Thursday being his last day in office.

Couch recounted that shortly after he came onto the commission, he saw Tebay interacting with an individual who came in for a probate hearing and noticed the kindness Tebay showed that individual.

“The kindness he showed someone really rubbed off on me,” he said. “I am lucky that I have gotten to serve with him.”

Couch noted that Tebay served on commission with a number of people including his father, Dave Couch; Ken Merritt; and Holmes “Butch” Shaver as well as so many other officials with Wood County over the years.

Couch jokingly referred to Tebay as always being a “curmudgeon” during their time on commission together. Tebay served on the commission with the likes of

He talked about Tebay working on local projects, including Fort Boreman Park, the Wood County Justice Center, the new Wood County 911 center, the Judge Black Annex and the Wood County Resiliency Center.

(Photo by Brett Dunlap) Wood County Commissioners Jimmy Colombo and Blair Couch on Thursday commemorate the service of their fellow commissioner Robert Tebay on his last day in office. Tebay is retiring and stepping down. Officials held a reception at the Wood County Resiliency Center on Thursday to honor Tebay’s service to the county.

“However, we kept investing in the old courthouse,” Couch said of the historic Wood County Courthouse where the commission meets twice a week.

Over the years, Tebay said it was always important for him to be a good steward of the taxpayer’s money and to encourage economic development in the area that would create jobs to help the citizens have a better quality of life and to benefit the local tax base.

Over the past few years, Tebay has been helping to develop the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport as a business hub for economic development.

Representatives from US Senator Shelley Moore Capito and West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey’s offices also made presentations to Tebay.

Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard, one of the three people running for the commission seat in the May primary, spoke about Tebay and presented him with a certificate that highlighted his gratitude to Tebay for his years of service to the county.

(Photo by Brett Dunlap) Wood County Commissioner Robert Tebay receives a plaque from Wood County Clerk Joe Gonzales honoring his service to the county. Tebay officially stepped down from his office on Thursday as county officials held a reception at the Wood County Resiliency Center honoring Tebay’s 22 years as a county commissioner.

“We have known each other for a long time,” Woodyard said. “You have always been a gentleman.

“You have treated the sheriff’s department with outstanding loyalty.”

Wood County Clerk Joe Gonzales talked about how he enjoyed working with Tebay before presenting him with a plaque for his dedication to the citizens of Wood County.

“It has been great working with you from my first day as Wood County Clerk,” Gonzales said. “You have been excellent to work with.

“You have been very kind and my staff has enjoyed working for you.”

Gonzales always commended Tebay for asking if there was anything the County Clerk’s office needed.

“I can’t thank you enough for everything that you have done,” he said. “We hope you enjoy your retirement and we sure are going to miss you.”

Fellow commissioner Jimmy Colombo also offered his praise and respect for Tebay.

“Bob is one heck of a guy,” Colombo said. “It has been wonderful working with you.”

During their time on commission Colombo always described Tebay as someone he could work with and how their lineup on the commission was able to work together to get things done.

“We have not had a lot of arguments as we have worked very closely,” Colombo said. “We have been able to work any problems out.

“We understood that is the way you have to do it.”

Colombo talked about Tebay’s fiscal responsibility in managing the tax money that came into the county and making sure it went where it needed to go.

“Bob is special and I know why he is special,” Colombo said. “He is a farmer.”

Colombo once asked him if cows had personalities and Tebay responded that of course they do.

“They are just like people,” Colombo quoted Tebay. “You have the good cows and the bad cows.

“You stay away from the bad cows and work with the good cows.”

Colombo said Tebay used that same philosophy with people.

“Bob Tebay’s door was always open,” Colombo said. “Bob Tebay’s ears were always listening. Bob was not fighting with people. That is not Bob Tebay’s style. He wanted people to come and talk about it and work it out.”

Tebay received his second Spirit of Wood County Award with him being the only two-time awardee.

Tebay said he had plans to do some traveling to visit family down south.

In his closing remarks, Tebay quoted General Douglas MacArthur in saying “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”

“That is what I’m going to do, fade away,” Tebay said with a laugh.