98-year-old electrician inspires Sullivan community

SULLIVAN, Ill. (WAND) - Paul Craig, better known as "Short" is at home among aisles of starters and fuses. The 98-year-old has worked at Atchison Electric, Inc. since 1978, only one year after the business was started.

The soon-to-be 99-year-old has already made history at Atchison as their oldest employee. But Short has a hard time quitting.

"Well, he's said he's going to retire on his 99th birthday, but he's retired several times already," said Dick Atchison, the CEO of Atchison Electric, Inc. and the man who hired Short. "He retired once, took a two week trip in a motor home and then came back and went back to work."

While the work Short is doing has changed slightly over the years, his day-to-day routine has always been the same.

"I get up at 5:00, get ready to go, head to McDonald's for breakfast and then come here to open at 6:30," said Short. "I always have a cup of coffee and a burrito."

Even though Short can't get around as well as he used to, he still works to make sure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. His coworkers created the "Short Mobile" which is a modified golf cart Short uses to get from one end of the warehouse to the other. Fellow employees say Short is always ready to take new employees under his wing and share his experience.

"He mentors all the young guys that come through and he is still a valuable resource for the guys," said Atchison. "We've got several electricians that have been with us for 25-30 years and they still talk to him for help."

In his time at Atchison, Short has done a little bit of everything. The experience has made it easy for him to fill in and help wherever he's needed.

Short turns 99 on November 25th and he told WAND he plans for that to be his last day. However, his fellow employees don't think that will be the case.

"I think he might come back," said Atchison, "He's going to get bored."

Either way, Short's legacy will continue at Atchison Electric, Inc. His grandson has already been working there for 30 years.