Casey's hosts surprise honor for Air Force veteran

With Casey's General Stores across the Midwest honoring veterans who now work for the company, the Greencastle store took a moment to recognize Herschel "Ray"� Rigney (second from left) on Tuesday. The 22-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force received a commemorative coin and a letter from Casey's CEO Robert Myers. Gathered with Rigney are (from left) assistant manager Amber Tomasino, Jennifer Strother, Store Manager Jena Miller and Area Supervisor Amanda Spangler. (Photo by JARED JERNAGAN)

Believing he was going to work for a training session, Herschel "Ray" Rigney instead got quite a surprise when he arrived at Casey's General Store in Greencastle on Monday.

Rigney, who is also a United States Air Force veteran, was instead honored by managers and fellow employees for his service to his country.

"I thought I was coming in for training. I had no idea," Rigney said. "I spent 22 years in the Air Force and I appreciate the recognition from Casey's."

The recognition included a commemorative coin and a letter from Casey's Chairman and CEO Robert Myers.

"Your service inspires us each day to give back to our communities, perform civic duties and stand for the American values which you have greatly defended," Myers wrote. "Our nation is now, and always will be, a better place because of the sacrifice of great men and women such as you."

The presentation is part of a corporation-wide effort to honor veterans employed by Casey's. Rigney's name was also placed in a book of all the veterans who have been honored by the franchise.

"It's something Casey's holds pretty dear to our heart and we had to honor the veterans that work for us," Area Supervisor Amanda Spangler said.

A Reelsville native, Rigney served in the Air Force from 1968 through 1991.

"I appreciate working at Casey's," Rigney said. "It's an excellent place to work -- great supervisors, great staff. It's a fun place."

The feeling is reciprocal for Store Manager Jena Miller.

"Ray's what I call an ideal employee with the values he has and the work he does," Miller said.

Those values are due, at least in part, to the time Rigney spent in the service.

"Being in the military sets standards you have to adhere to," Rigney said. "You have to take the good with the bad and persevere, not that I have anything to complain about here (at Casey's).

"The military taught me that as an individual you probably won't succeed, but as a team player anything is possible. And Casey's has a good team."