By CHARLES L. WARNER

LOCKHART — Idleness is not a word you associate with Hugh Gregory.

At an age when others are retired and taking it easy, Gregory wears a variety of hats in service of the Town of Lockhart and the surrounding community. As the town’s engineer Gregory technically works only four hours a day but is actually on call around the clock. He is responsible for maintaining the town’s water system including testing its fire hydrants and valves, changing its meters, dealing with the mountains of paperwork required by DHEC and responding to any crisis that might occur.

Gregory also does carpentry, electrical and plumbing work for the town. He is also a trained and certified firefighter and serves as the chief of the Lockhart Volunteer Fire Department.

All this at the tender age of 73.

“I’m not idle, I’ll tell you that,” he said. “I’m always doing something.”

Before coming to work for the town, Gregory — like the rest of his family — worked at Lockhart Mill. He worked as an electrician at the mill while it was operating and became its caretaker after it closed in 1996. The mill was demolished in 2002 and the company handling the demolition consulted Gregory about the electrical system, pipes and other aspects of the building. Gregory remained on duty, overseeing the demolition of the building that had provided employment for his family for more than 80 years, becoming the mill’s last employee.

Shortly after the mill was demolished Mayor Ailene Ashe “volunteered” Gregory to become the town’s engineer.

“Working at the mill I knew a lot about maintenance,” he said. “I was familiar with the filtration system and piping so she volunteered me for the job.”

Mrs. Ashe praised Gregory’s service to Lockhart and credits him with helping make her tenure as a mayor a successful one.

“My husband said that I should ask Hugh to work for me because Hugh just knows everything about the town,” she said. “Hugh has just been such an asset to the town. He has has helped me and I just give him the credit for my being as successful as mayor as I have been.

“He cares about the town and he cares about the people in the town,” she said. “He was born and raised here and he just knows all about the town. He will help you whether it’s doing something eletrical or about water lines or anything he will help. He just cares about the town and its people.”

D.A. McCloud says Gregory’s abilty to perform a variety of duties helps the town financially.

“He saves them a lot of money,” he said. “He’s good for the community.”

Gregory is assisted in his duties by Blake McCollum, who marvels at his knowledge.

“He’s taught me a lot about what I need to do for the town,” he said. “He knows pretty much everything. He’s an inspiration to me.”

Gregory’s wife, June, has also gotten involved in his work. Three years ago, Gregory was scraping a driveway when the tractor he was driving overturned. His arm was injured, limiting his ability to perform his duties. June accompanied her husband to work, helping him perform his duties including flush our fire hydrants.

This service to the community is a family tradition that extends back to Gregory’s father, who arrived in Lockhart in 1920. Like so many families that came to Lockhart to work in the mill, the Gregorys were devoted to the mill and to their community.

“We were a Milliken family and we always supported the community,” he said. “I enjoy working in the town and associating with its people. I’ve really enjoyed it.”