OGDEN — Ogden City Planning Manager Greg Montgomery stood in a sliver of shade in the east parking lot of the Ogden City Municipal Building on Tuesday evening waiting for his family to accompany him to the City Council meeting where he would be recognized for his 40 years of service to the community.

Montgomery is attributed with aiding in many successful developments in Ogden during his decades-long career.

“If we were to list them all, we would never get out of here,” Councilwoman Marcia White read in a prepared statement on behalf of the council and Mayor Mike Caldwell.

What has been accomplished throughout the city of Ogden has been a joint effort by everyone, Montgomery said. While he said he appreciates being recognized, he does not understand what the fuss is all about.

“People retire all the time, and everyone has a story to tell,” he said.

Montgomery’s daughter, Madalyn Haas, said she has always known him to be completely selfless and always working.

As a teenager working in his father’s typewriter shop downtown, Montgomery spent a lot of time in the municipal building picking up and dropping off machines for his father, Robert, who had a contract with the city for repairs.

“It’s bittersweet, but I think it’s going to be more sweet,” he said, adding he’ll no longer being tied to the municipal building until 11 p.m. on multiple nights in a row.

In addition to stepping down for others to have opportunities within the Planning Commission, Montgomery said he wants to take advantage of retirement to do all the things he has not had time to do.

With both sides of his family having lived in the Ogden area since 1850, Montgomery has been researching about their histories After June 30, his official last day, he plans to devote more time to writing about family histories and making family memories for his five grandchildren.

For White, she said her fondest memory of Montgomery will be his ability to make her laugh out loud when everybody is watching.

Fellow council members shared in White’s sentiments. Councilwoman Angela Choberka thanked Montgomery for being so kind and patient in explaining the ins and outs of planning and development when she needed clarification.

Choberka said while she is certain Ogden City Deputy Planning Manager Barton Brierley will do an amazing job in Montgomery’s position, it will take some getting used to.

“Things will go on,” Montgomery said. “They always do.”

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