Hugh Ruppert turned 89 years old Wednesday. He has been working hard six days a week at a McDonald’s in Piqua, Ohio for the last year and he’s done such an amazing job, he was just named Employee of the Year!
Ruppert wakes up every morning at 3am without an alarm clock and heads to Mickey D’s for a shift from 7am to 2pm working in the lobby of the restaurant. When he gets home he lifts weights in his home gym. Before this job he had a successful 25 year career at Hobart Brothers. After retiring, he worked at the Christian Life Center as a maintenance guy, but he didn't get to interact with people so he looked for a new job. He admits there were a lot of no's. "They didn't say it, but I think a lot of the folks in charge of hiring people assumed that I didn't have the energy or mental faculties required to work all the time. I'm so thankful McDonald's was willing to take a chance on me!"
But he has plenty of money so what made him want to keep working? "I wanted to inspire younger people to see the dignity of work and the honor in giving your all". And he has no plans to stop anytime soon, he wants to work until he’s 100. Why? “I don't want to sit in a rocking chair and waste away. Life's not about resting, it's about doing stuff!”