SAN ANGELO, Texas — For more than 20 years, H-E-B Unit Director Lynn Shipley has been that same smiling face at the H-E-B at 3301 Sherwood Way.
For almost three decades, Shipley has been through just about anything West Texas has thrown at him. From tornadoes, heat waves and even COVID-19, he continued to be the fearless leader and has helped H-E-B evolve throughout the years locally, always making sure the community and his team come first.
Now, the gentleman from Fredericksburg is calling it a career – one he’ll look back and be proud.
"As you move forward, you will want to make the biggest impacts you can," Shipley said. "It's how you treat people, it'sh ow you respect people and it's how you communicate with people."
Shipley is still taking it all in on his decision to retire, and is still tying up a few things at work. The decision to say farewell has not quite sunken in yet for him.
"I probably won't start realizing that I'm actually retired til after about two weeks because normally we'll take a week or two weeks of vacations at a time," Shipley said.
Shipley is now ready to start a new chapter in his life. The decision behind his retirement was not a glamorous one requiring attention, but a simple one - just how he’s lived his life in San Angelo.
"You reach a point that you evaluate your health, and you look at where you're at and what you've achieved," Shipley said. "Sometimes when the right people come along and it gives you an opportunity to retire."
He knows he still has bit left in the tank, but he his going to use that energy to spend time with his family, and even do some traveling.
"I think that the coast, our Coastal Bend is on my to-do list. Colorado is definitely on my to-do list," Shipley said.
San Angelo will still continue to be his home, no matter where he goes. The community and his H-E-B team will be the biggest things he will miss, but he is thankful for his journey.
"I thank the good lord for that day and I thank the good lord for that evening, and because I fulfilled that day," Shipley said. "It's very important that you take each day on its own and try to make the best out of it that you possibly can."