MONROE - He thought his working days were over, but George Wells should have known better.
It was 1989, and Wells had just retired after 18 years as manager at First Federal Savings Bank. But Bob Ableman, a vice-president at Swiss Colony, had a hunch that Wells couldn't slow down.
"Bob said, "George, I have a job for you' and I said, "I'm 65, what do I need a job for?'" Wells said. "Well, by the time fall came around I discovered I couldn't just sit around."
And so began yet another career for Wells, who joined the shipping area and two years later headed a training and orientation program at the company.
"Then, public relations got ahold of me," Wells said. "I traveled around and gave speeches to different groups."
Next thing he knew, more than two decades had gone by with Swiss Colony.
"I finally stopped working in 2011 at age 87," said Wells, now 90, "after 22 years of being both retired and working all at once."
Staying active has always played a role in Wells' incredible longevity.
"For 20 of my 22 years at Swiss Colony, I walked to work 18 blocks there and 18 blocks back, regardless of weather. It could be 20 degrees below," Wells said. "I don't know how I did it."
Born and raised in Monroe, Wells has for years been nothing less than a fixture in town.
After the Korean War - which was his second war of duty - he purchased the Chocolate Shop on the north side of the Square, operating it between 1960 and 1970.
When First Federal Savings decided to establish a branch on 11th Street (now Associated Bank), Wells was recruited despite having no financial background.
"I was recommended because they figured I knew people and would bring them in," Wells said.
Wells' first career began with JCPenney in 1946 right after World War II. He would marry his wife, Marilyn, a year later before the Korean War called for his services.
Back during World War II, Wells enlisted in the Air Force his senior year of high school in 1943, during the war's pinnacle.
He didn't have a real interest in flying, but it beat being a soldier on the ground.
"I didn't want to be drafted," he said. "This way, I had a choice."
He and a friend hitchhiked to Madison to take the cadet exam and a week later they took their physicals.
The Air Force allowed him to finish high school before graduating, but then the draft board called his name.
"I had some problems with the draft board, but the Air Force came in and straightened in out," Wells said. "They said, "You can't draft him. He's already in the Air Force.'"
An elaborate training program for pilots began in South Carolina for Wells, Meanwhile, he said many of his classmates were part of the D-Day invasion and 1944, and several would perish.
The war would soon end with Wells seeing little combat - his missions involved the Pacific Theater - but things would be different in Korea, where beginning in 1951 he flew 35 bombing missions in a B-29. The bombs he dropped on targets weighed 4,500 pounds each.
It's an era of his life that is tough to discuss.
"I lost too many people I knew," said Wells, who finished as a second lieutenant.
But his dedication to the military continued, as he became a liaison officer with the Air Force Academy.
Part of his job was talking to high school students, and his efforts helped land some Monroe boys in the Air Force, including Dr. Leon Wittwer and Neal Jacobs.
There were others he helped land acceptance at West Point.
Meanwhile, he's proud of the fact a granddaughter, Jennifer, has graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy.
Last year, his son John accompanied Wells on a trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the Honors Flight program, bringing a meaningful closure to Wells' military career.
Wells was surprised to learn how times have changed.
"We were there for the changing of the guard and I was standing next to a woman in an Air Force uniform," Wells said. "She asked me what I flew and I told her a B-29. She had never heard of such a thing."
Meanwhile, back in Monroe, Wells is proud of his local volunteer efforts. Over the years, he served as president of the Jaycees (he was named outstanding young man), president of the Chamber of Commerce, president of the Lions and the first-ever Monroe High School Boosters president.
Today, George and Marilyn Wells mostly stay put in Monroe. They used to travel a lot to Florida to visit son Mike, a basketball coach who guided his team to a state title, but cancer unfortunately took his life.
"It was the one wish he had," Wells said of his son's basketball accomplishment.
Son John is a teacher in McFarland and daughter Ann recently retired from Swiss Colony - she worked there at the same as Dad did.
Are there plans for Wells to "retire" once again to somewhere warmer?
"No, we're happy with our routines here," he said. "Marilyn has her bridge group and we like our doctors and our friends. Packing up and moving would be a bit much."
It was 1989, and Wells had just retired after 18 years as manager at First Federal Savings Bank. But Bob Ableman, a vice-president at Swiss Colony, had a hunch that Wells couldn't slow down.
"Bob said, "George, I have a job for you' and I said, "I'm 65, what do I need a job for?'" Wells said. "Well, by the time fall came around I discovered I couldn't just sit around."
And so began yet another career for Wells, who joined the shipping area and two years later headed a training and orientation program at the company.
"Then, public relations got ahold of me," Wells said. "I traveled around and gave speeches to different groups."
Next thing he knew, more than two decades had gone by with Swiss Colony.
"I finally stopped working in 2011 at age 87," said Wells, now 90, "after 22 years of being both retired and working all at once."
Staying active has always played a role in Wells' incredible longevity.
"For 20 of my 22 years at Swiss Colony, I walked to work 18 blocks there and 18 blocks back, regardless of weather. It could be 20 degrees below," Wells said. "I don't know how I did it."
Born and raised in Monroe, Wells has for years been nothing less than a fixture in town.
After the Korean War - which was his second war of duty - he purchased the Chocolate Shop on the north side of the Square, operating it between 1960 and 1970.
When First Federal Savings decided to establish a branch on 11th Street (now Associated Bank), Wells was recruited despite having no financial background.
"I was recommended because they figured I knew people and would bring them in," Wells said.
Wells' first career began with JCPenney in 1946 right after World War II. He would marry his wife, Marilyn, a year later before the Korean War called for his services.
Back during World War II, Wells enlisted in the Air Force his senior year of high school in 1943, during the war's pinnacle.
He didn't have a real interest in flying, but it beat being a soldier on the ground.
"I didn't want to be drafted," he said. "This way, I had a choice."
He and a friend hitchhiked to Madison to take the cadet exam and a week later they took their physicals.
The Air Force allowed him to finish high school before graduating, but then the draft board called his name.
"I had some problems with the draft board, but the Air Force came in and straightened in out," Wells said. "They said, "You can't draft him. He's already in the Air Force.'"
An elaborate training program for pilots began in South Carolina for Wells, Meanwhile, he said many of his classmates were part of the D-Day invasion and 1944, and several would perish.
The war would soon end with Wells seeing little combat - his missions involved the Pacific Theater - but things would be different in Korea, where beginning in 1951 he flew 35 bombing missions in a B-29. The bombs he dropped on targets weighed 4,500 pounds each.
It's an era of his life that is tough to discuss.
"I lost too many people I knew," said Wells, who finished as a second lieutenant.
But his dedication to the military continued, as he became a liaison officer with the Air Force Academy.
Part of his job was talking to high school students, and his efforts helped land some Monroe boys in the Air Force, including Dr. Leon Wittwer and Neal Jacobs.
There were others he helped land acceptance at West Point.
Meanwhile, he's proud of the fact a granddaughter, Jennifer, has graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy.
Last year, his son John accompanied Wells on a trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the Honors Flight program, bringing a meaningful closure to Wells' military career.
Wells was surprised to learn how times have changed.
"We were there for the changing of the guard and I was standing next to a woman in an Air Force uniform," Wells said. "She asked me what I flew and I told her a B-29. She had never heard of such a thing."
Meanwhile, back in Monroe, Wells is proud of his local volunteer efforts. Over the years, he served as president of the Jaycees (he was named outstanding young man), president of the Chamber of Commerce, president of the Lions and the first-ever Monroe High School Boosters president.
Today, George and Marilyn Wells mostly stay put in Monroe. They used to travel a lot to Florida to visit son Mike, a basketball coach who guided his team to a state title, but cancer unfortunately took his life.
"It was the one wish he had," Wells said of his son's basketball accomplishment.
Son John is a teacher in McFarland and daughter Ann recently retired from Swiss Colony - she worked there at the same as Dad did.
Are there plans for Wells to "retire" once again to somewhere warmer?
"No, we're happy with our routines here," he said. "Marilyn has her bridge group and we like our doctors and our friends. Packing up and moving would be a bit much."