Today is hot and humid in Valdosta, GA. In South Georgia and across America — no matter the weather — dedicated operations crews are posting, maintaining, and building billboards.

Sometimes overlooked, ops crews personify “essential workers.” Insider is honored to share the story of one of these operations heroes: Lamar Harris of Fairway Outdoor, Valdosta, GA.

Lamar Harris will retire after 50 years; his work colleagues plan to honor him on June 14 at the plant. Insider checked in with the Operations Manager at Fairway-Valdosta, Virgil Moore, to learn more.

What’s your favorite story about Lamar Harris?

Virgil Moore: Lamar wanted to be a sign man so bad that he got a speeding ticket going to work on his first day, because he wanted to get to work an hour early.

How did Lamar Harris start his career, 50 years ago?

Virgil Moore: He started out with TriState Outdoor in 1971, building Days Inn signs.

Lamar Harris must have seen plenty of change?

Virgil Moore: The company name changed six times. He built structures all over the Southeastern United States. Lamar and his two-person crew could “turn key” a four-face back-to-back stack in three days flat. He has seen more changes than any of us.

Ops workers overcome obstacles. How was Lamar Harris persistent?

Virgil Moore:  Lamar Harris was exposed to Covid-19 in the later months of 2020. He spent 32 days in the hospital and five more weeks recovering at home. Eventually, at age 69, he returned to work.

Lamar will tell you that wanting to get back to work gave him strength.

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Insider salutes Lamar Harris for his half-century of skilled work, and the operations heroes who face the elements, deadlines, and gravity to (literally) build this industry.

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