PHOTO GALLERY: Roy Francis retires from position as Boone County fire mechanic

May 1, 2012 | 7:23 p.m. CDT

Roy Francis, mechanic for the Boone County Fire Protection District, is retiring after 42 years. In his time serving the fire district, he has seen many technological advances and helped create practices that are now used nationwide.

Roy Francis works on a leaky valve of a fire truck Thursday, April 5, in the workshop of the Boone County Fire Protection District office. Francis will be retiring after 42 years of working as a mechanic on fire trucks. | Sam Gause

Roy Francis welcomes his granddaughter, Kady Spry, to his retirement party at the Holiday Inn Expo Center on Monday. Roy Francis and his wife, Luda Francis, are the proud grandparents of 15 grandchildren and, as of Sunday, 19 great-grandchildren. | Megan May

Friends and family laugh as they listen to stories about former Boone County Fire Protection District mechanic Roy Francis at his retirement party on Monday. Francis worked with the fire district for 42 years before he retired. | Megan May

Roy Francis and his wife, Luda Francis, listen to colleagues speak on behalf of the Boone County Fire Protection District at his retirement party Monday. The couple married right before he joined the fire district 42 years ago. | Megan May