Lloyd Melhorn will retire on Friday, Aug. 8, from Longenecker's Hardware in Manheim after 50 years of employment.

In 1975, Melhorn's father-in-law worked in the appliance department at Longenecker's and informed him of an opening there. Melhorn, then 33 years old, wrote a letter to the company president, Fred Longenecker. They met in person, and Fred hired him on the spot. When Fred retired 24 years later in 1999, he cleaned out his desk and returned that letter to Melhorn, who still has it.

Melhorn attended Messiah College and was a former pastor of Brethren in Christ Church before being hired by Longenecker's in the appliance department. He delivered and installed appliances and did plumbing and electrical work. He later worked in the screen and glass departments. He currently processes inventory from the True Value warehouses as it is received in the store.

During his long tenure with the store, Melhorn has witnessed the store's expansions. Many of the store's departments have also evolved in past decades, such as the greenhouse, rental department, gifts and toys and expanded power tool department.

Melhorn and his wife, Lois, raised a daughter and two sons in Manheim and have two grandchildren, who all live locally. The Melhorns have enjoyed traveling many times to the Caribbean, to Africa and to missions in Nicaragua and Honduras. They have sold their home of 50 years and have downsized.

Melhorn works in his church's food pantry and may look for more volunteer opportunities after he retires.