TWIGGS COUNTY, Ga. — Many of Twiggs County's retired educators attended the honorary ceremony, but Mr. Theodore Smith was the special guest star.
"I started off my teaching experience in first grade, in an old wood house at home teaching wood. That's how much I loved being a teacher," Smith said.
From that moment, he knew exactly what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.
"I attended Fort Valley State College at that time, then started my teaching career in 1951," Smith said.
Over the next 64 years, Smith taught social studies and music in South Carolina and Georgia, 16 of them with the state Department of Corrections in Macon.
"I worked from a teacher up to a curriculum director with many responsibilities in educating kids in those days," Smith said.
He retired from the Twiggs County School District in 2015 at the age of 83.
He and and other retired educators attended Twiggs' "Salute to Educators" Luncheon.
"I always look forward to coming down to Twiggs. Some good people are here," Smith said.
He said events like this makes teachers feel appreciated for all their hard work.
"They are important people who share what their basic skills that they have with somebody else to keep the learning tree growing," Smith said.
Even at 87 years old, he said he'd still be teaching if it weren't for his health.
"In my day, you just didn't complain, you just worked, and if I was able, I'd be out there right now," Smith said.
Twiggs County Superintendent Eglin Dixon started the Salute to Educators luncheon in 2014.
This year, the district honored Smith with an award recognizing his years with the district.