LIVERMORE FALLS — After Friday, Larry Brown will be able to sleep through the night during a snowstorm, something he hasn’t had the luxury to do in nearly 22 years.

Somebody else will be plowing and sanding the Moose Hill Road route.

Not only that, Brown, who turns 62 on Monday, will put away his well-worn lunch basket that his wife of 40 years, Millie, has packed for him.

Brown of East Livermore is retiring as a truck driver from the Livermore Falls Highway Department.

Town Manager Jim Chaousis announced last week that there would a retirement party at noon Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the town office.

Brown began his career driving logging trucks, and then went into the U.S. Army where he served for two years during the Vietnam War.

Upon his return, he drove truck for Isaacson Lumber for 14 years before taking the job with the town.

“When I was young, I just thought that (driving truck) was something I wanted to do and I picked it up and did it ever since,” Brown said. “You get it into your head and you do it. It’s better than handling a spade.”

There is a lot of responsibility that goes along with driving truck, he said.

“People don’t appear to have respect for the people driving trucks,” Brown said, at least not from what he’s seen. “They pull out in front of you, and then blame the truck driver when something happens.”

He’s planning to take a break from driving, enjoy his family and putter in the garage.

“I just want to back out of it for a little while,” he said. “I hope to be used as a spare here, once in a while.” He may work a day here or there for someone else, he said, but he doesn’t want a full-time job.

“I’m sure it’s going to be hard for me for a little while,” he said, of not going to work. “I have a garage and I’ll do a little work around the house. I might like to do some ice fishing with my grandchildren, maybe some snowmobiling. I’m just so glad I can retire and still be of help to do something.”

He’s slowed a little bit as he aged, he said, but he’s still got energy left.

“I’m going to miss the place, you know that,” he said. “I’ll stop by and see the boys once in a while.”

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Livermore Falls Highway Department truck driver Larry Brown of East Livermore will retire Friday after nearly 22 years on the job.