Safeway Hosting Reception Today For Just-Retired Long-Time Employee Tom Bannan

     For one of the few times in its 5-plus decades in Chadron, Safeway is holding a reception to celebrate a long-time Chadron employee. 

      Tom Bannan retired last month after 43-years with Safeway, all at the Chadron store, and today at 2:00 will be recognized for his service and presented with the Shining Star Award from the Bread Basket food program.

      Bannan was instrumental in the local Safeway donating pull-dated foods to Bread Basket and local food pantries rather than throwing out some of it or selling some at deep discount.

      Bannan’s Safeway career was a bit unusual because staying in Chadron to be near his parents and other family led him to turn down multiple opportunities to move up in management and transfer to other stores.

      Instead, he wound up taking a series of what he calls lateral promotions including night crew manager, head stocker, produce manager, and dairy manager.

     Current store director Anne Winner told the Chadron Record Bannan was a mentor to generations of Safeway employees and a huge asset to her and the entire company, calling him Mr Fix-It and able to do whatever needed to be done.

    Bannan was also a long-time member of the Chadron Volunteer Fire Department and says he’ll probably find other places to volunteer now that he’s retired and has more time to offer.

     His commitment to volunteering and public service can also be seen in his son, Miles Bannan, who’s just begun his 9th year on the Chadron City Council and has been active with the Fur Trade Days Committee for most of the past decade.