MAGNOLIA SPRINGS — It was an atmosphere of nostalgia, bluegrass music and appreciation at the Magnolia Springs Volunteer Fire Department last weekend, as members of the community held a fish fry on Saturday to honor retiring Baldwin County Sheriff’s Officer Wayne Gandy.

Some 200 people attended the event to bid farewell to Gandy, who has served as peace officer in Magnolia Springs since August 2008.

“He patrols, watches after our children in thearea,” said event co-sponsorDarla Baird. “If you call and need him, he’ll be there.”

Magnolia Springs Town Councilman John Cobb echoed those sentiments.

“He’s been an excellent addition to our community,” he said, “and it’s just nice for a policeman to make it to retirement.”

Joining members of the Magnolia Springs community Saturday were family members, as well as fellow law-enforcement officers Gandy served with in his 38-year career, including Cecil Rayborn and Jim Anderson, both of whom were instrumental in helping to start Gandy’s career almost four decades ago.

During Saturday’s gathering, Rayborn recounted to the crowd the story of how as an officer with the Fairhope Police Department, he learned that a freshly-graduated Gandy was seeking employment. According to Rayborn, he asked his superiors about tapping Gandy to fill a vacancy on the force. City officials then asked him to hire Gandy.

“But I said, ‘I’m not the police chief or the mayor,’” Rayorn said. “But they said, ‘Well, you know him.’”

That action would lead Gandy to serve with the Fairhope Police Department for eight and a half years. From there, he would spend the rest of his career with the Baldwin Couny Sheriff’s Department.

“I spent 30 years with the county,” Gandy said, adding that all but the last few of them were spent in the northern part of Baldwin.

In that time, the married father of four grown children has worked on a variety of cases, with the most notable taking place 11 years ago.

“A little child got abducted in Bay Minette in 2001,” Gandy said, recalling that in Malbis, he spotted the vehicle that then 21-year-old Adam Keith Waldmen had been driving with the then 5-year-old in tow.

“The street went kind of into a dead-end, he got out and started shooting at me,” Gandy added.

But an exchange of gunfire led to Waldman’s capture and the child’s safe return.

For that and other deeds, Gandy has received numerous accolades over the years, including Optimist Club of Perdido Bay Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, nominee for Alabama Legislative Medal of Honor for Law Enforcement and VFW Post 5600 Police Officer of the Year in 2006.

But now, the grandfather of five and great-grandfather of one is hanging up his badge.

“I thought the day would never get here,” said son Bryan Gandy, who came from Panama City, Fla., for the event. “Now he can enjoy himself.”

According to Gandy, who’s official day of retirement was Thursday, that’s the exact plan.

“I’m just going to relax for a little while and kick back,” he said.

But wife Debbie, who works in the nursing industry, said an activity or two may be down the road.

“We plan to travel out West in September,” she said.

In the meantime, she added, Gandy can keep himself busy with part-time work with Colonial Trailways. But it’s still quite a break from the “stressful” call of duty as a peace officer.

“He has earned it and deserves it,” Debbie Gandy said.