Audrey Gomez
Gilbert Muñoz, 59, retired two years ago after 35 years with the U.S. Forest Service.
Now he’s working hard to keep Sweet Home looking good.
It all started at a men’s breakfast at Sweet Home Evangelical Church.
He noticed the grass was tall and offered to help.
“I pretty much took over,” Muñoz said. “Many people have jobs or they are in their mid-70s or older.”
Muñoz then started helping out at other places around town.
“Pastor Rick from Cornerstone introduced me to the Hope Center,” Muñoz said.
There was a lot of work that needed to be done, he said.
“(I said) Yep, it’s going to be a challenge to get this cleaned up, but I can do it,” Muñoz said. “I just decided once I got that shaped up, I needed to keep that shaped up.”
Muñoz said he spends about 20 hours a week maintaining different locations.
“I worked with Gilbert for a long time on the engines,” said Kathryn Price, of the McKenzie River Ranger District.
Muñoz taught her a lot, she said, and it doesn’t surprise her that he is keeping busy.
In addition to the Evangelical Church and the Hope Center, he also tidies up the outsides of the Methodist Church, the Senior Center and recently joined the beautification committee that maintains the median on Main Street.
Muñoz plays pool and cribbage at the Senior Center and goes on all of their trips, said Senior Center Activities Director Monica Hoffman. One day, he offered to help out.
“He randomly asked if he could do some yardwork and (Director) Ken (Bronson) said ‘Sure!’” Hoffman said.
At that time, Hoffman didn’t know Muñoz volunteered at other spots, but she started to see him working at other places around town.
“He’s a perfect example of getting involved,” Hoffman said.
Muñoz is glad he can help out, he said.
“I don’t like to waste time and do nothing just because I’m retired,” Muñoz said.
While he enjoys volunteering, he does take time to take care of himself.
He has attended the Evangelical Church for more than 30 years, he said, except for fire season.
“We had to work Sundays through the summer,” he explained.
He attends different Bible studies throughout the week.
Most days he gets up between 6:30 and 8 a.m.
“But two different Bible studies are at 7 a.m., so I have to get up at 6 a.m. to get ready,” Muñoz said.
He also works out five days a week at Steelhead Strength and Fitness. Muñoz has lost about 45 pounds since his retirement.
He used to run on the highway but a friend cautioned him about the damage the impact could eventually have on his knees.
That’s when he started using a treadmill. He does still run on trails or dirt when weather allows, though.
He has enjoyed working, and working out, outdoors his whole life.
“I do indoor only if I have to,” Muñoz said.
As an engine operator on the McKenzie River Ranger District, Muñoz admired his surroundings. He mentioned to his coworkers a particularly beautiful spot just north of the ranger district that he wanted to visit.
“Look, see how pretty that is out there,” Muñoz recalls saying.
The location was difficult to access, but he knew it would be worth the effort.
“(I said) ‘I’m going to go out there before I retire,’” Muñoz said.
He made it, but not quite the way he thought.
During a morning briefing near the date of his retirement, he and volunteer Paul Balevich were assigned to work near the area.
“We went back and forth in the woods, looking at the GPS,” Muñoz said.
Finally Balevich fessed up that the reason they were out there was so Muñoz could find that spot he admired from afar.
Muñoz took off on his own and the two kept in radio contact.
“I hiked down and ran right into the place,” Muñoz said.
Muñoz keeps a framed photo taken on that day.
On the back are signatures and well wishes from the many friends he made working at the McKenzie River Ranger District.