On Friday, the final day of his more than 40-year career at Pete’s Southside Marathon, Niles’ Garry Worl went about business as usual, scampering underneath various cars to coax them back to life or completing regular repairs. At just after 1 p.m., he paused his work to wash the grease from his hands and take a lunch break.

Save for the cake, piped in blue frosting and wishing him a “happy retirement,” nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But despite the average work day, co-workers who have come to know Worl said the lead technician would be sorely missed at the garage and service station. 

In his years of service as a lead technician, Worl developed a reputation among co-workers as the “go-to guy” for just about any issue. 

Owner of the garage Pete Adams, who he first started operating Marathon in 1967, said Worl’s know-how would not be forgotten.

“He’s a good one, we will miss him,” Adams said. “But everything comes to an end. It’s been a good haul for both of us. He was my main man.”

Worl got his start working for Adams around January of 1971. At the time, Worl said he had a high school friend who also worked there and influenced him to apply. There were days when Worl is not hesitant to say that working at Marathon felt like just a job, but throughout his career, Worl said he grew to know the dedication of Adams to his customers.

“Pete was the leader,” Worl said. “And I was the go-to guy. You got dedicated people.”

Worl is a Brandywine High School graduate, who attended auto shop classes throughout his high school career. Worl said his father worked as a truck driver and this likely sparked his first interest in working with automobiles.

“I have been billed into that [working with cars],” Worl said.

After graduation, Worl worked for Ford Garage, before deciding to further his career with Marathon Oil Company in Battle Creek. Through the company, he attended classes that trained him in customer service. Worl also earned his Michigan Vehicle Certification in the 1970s. 

In addition to serving hundreds of customers in his time with Pete’s Southside, Worl has also helped to mentor several other employees in the craft.

On Friday, Pete’s Southside employee Adam Cords worked on a car adjacent to Worl. Cords said he has been an employee with Pete’s for nine years and has picked up a few tricks of the trade from Worl.

“Worl is a great mentor,” Cords said. “I have learned a lot from that guy. He is just a cool guy. He has taught some easier ways to do things. He is a good guy to go to when you have a problem.”

Outside of Pete’s, Worl’s craft has also influenced his son, Lawrence Worl, who also works in the automotive field in Indiana.

Worl left Marathon to work for another garage for two years in the late 1970s, but returned to continue because he said, “Pete needed his help.”

After more than four decades of serving at Pete’s, Worl said he felt it was the right time to retire.

“Let the young guys have it,” Worl said. “It’s time.”

Despite leaving the shop, Worl is not done working on cars yet. Pinned near his worksspace at Pete’s, Worl hung pictures of custom cars, including a F-100 Ford that he plans to work on with his son, Lawrence, during retirement.

“I would like to get away from the mechanical side and do some custom work,” Worl said.

Looking back on his career, Worl said what he will miss his co-workers and customers.

“I will miss the people that holler at me, ‘hey,’” Worl said, “because I have been working in this corner so long that they have to stick their head through the doorway [and know to shout my name].”