Although Steve Slater may be stepping down as agency manager of the Soddy-Daisy branch of Farm Bureau Insurance, 1972’s “Mr. Soddy-Daisy” has no intentions of leaving the town he’s grown to love.
“There’s a big risk of vacationing quite a bit,” he said with a laugh as he prepared last week for his upcoming retirement. “My golf game will improve and I’ll catch more fish, but I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”
Slater has been an agent since 1982, and has been a mainstay in the community since. In his own words, he has always had the attitude that if there’s anything he can do to help out, he will.
“Hopefully my influence has been positive,” said the father of two. Both of his children went through their entire education in the Soddy-Daisy system. “I’ve coached a lot of kids over the last 40 years in the Soddy-Daisy Kids Club, and I’ve tried to make service a big part of my life.”
In addition to donating his time to the children of Soddy-Daisy, Slater has helped the local Habitat for Humanity, the Make-a-Wish Foundation and Making Strides, a national breast cancer awareness organization.
“When you live in and love this community, you make service a priority,” he said.
Living in the community for so long, Slater has a bevy of stories. One he quickly recalls happened on July 4, 1976, when he and former mayor Rick Nunley decided to take cheap rubber rafts and float down Soddy Creek after it had rained.
“That was definitely all his idea,” Slater said with a laugh. “I had no idea what I was getting into. I ended up busting my head on a rock and getting 57 stitches.”
A local resident ended up pulling Slater out of the creek by his hair to safety, he said. Although harrowing at the time, Slater said he looks fondly on memories like those.
“I’ve got plenty more stories, but I don’t think some folks on the City Council would appreciate me mentioning their name,” he said with a laugh.
With his new free time, Slater is considering a foray into politics himself. He said he’s had quite a few people ask him about running for various offices previously, but he didn’t feel he could adequately serve while working with Farm Bureau.
“I don’t think my wife is completely on board, but we’ll see,” Slater said.
While his insurance office will continue with business as usual, those interested in bidding him farewell upon his retirement can visit during a drop-in reception Friday, March 18 from 2-6 p.m. to give their regards.
The one thing Slater said he’s 100 percent confident he’ll tackle after retirement is the biggest item on his bucket list.
“I’m hoping sometime in 2017 that my wife and I will fly to Chicago, rent a car and take Route 66 all the way to LA,” he said.
For his years of service to the Soddy-Daisy community, it seems Slater has earned a bit of time off.