Jim Anderson receives Hy-Vee's highest honor
Long-time Humboldt Hy-Vee Food Store employee Jim Anderson (center) was honored for his long service to the company last week. He is surrounded by past and present store managers. Pictured, from left: Charlie Anderson, Roger Townsend, Anderson, Dan Steenhoek and Tim Schipull. Independent photo.
By PHIL MONSON
For over nearly 46 years, Jim Anderson has done nothing but show up for work every day at Hy-Vee Food Store in Humboldt, do his work in the produce department and greet the public when they entered the store.
But in those nearly 46 years, Anderson has touched a lot of lives and dedicated his life to the company. For those reasons, among others, Anderson last week received Hy-Vee’s highest honor when he was awarded the Richard N. Jurgens Legendary Customer Service Award.
A large crowd of community members, family members, co-workers past and present, along with members of the Hy-Vee corporate office, converged on Humboldt last Friday, Sept. 27, for a surprise ceremony to give Anderson the award.
Store manager Roger Townsend took Anderson out of the building early in the afternoon for about 30 minutes for everyone to arrive. When Townsend and Anderson returned to the store around 1:30 p.m. and entered the building, Anderson was in awe.
“I’m shocked. I walked through the door and I was wondering ‘what’s going on.’ Then I saw my name up on the banner and I thought, why? Why am I this? I just come to work here every day and do my stuff and greet people. I know just about everybody in town. That’s just what I do. That’s what we’re taught to do here at Hy-Vee,” Anderson said.
“This is the highest award you can get from Hy-Vee. You are talking 88,000 people who are employed with Hy-Vee as of right now,” Townsend said. “Just 13 people get selected for this award. You have your very own here in Humboldt in Jim Anderson.”
“By testaments of so many people, Jim has exemplified what it is to be great at customer service,” Townsend said.
Townsend read several letters of recommendation to nominate Anderson for the award. All of them had immense praise and some shared their emotions as they described how Anderson touched their lives or the life of a loved one.
To read the full story, check out this week's issue of the Humboldt Independent!
