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93-year-old Georgia bartender is happiest at work

Bill's Place has existed for over 50 years in Fitzgerald.

FITZGERALD, Ga. — In a town where a John Deere is the only thing that slows down traffic, happy hour is engineered daily in this building not much bigger than the town post office.

“Everybody who comes through this door, they felt like it was home," the owner, Bill said.

Bill named his place after himself and at 93 he still comes to work every day, opening up shop and ready to serve a cold beer to the next customer.

The guy who is most definitely old school - even keeping a ledger not of sales, but of birthdays.

“Whenever they come in I sing them a happy birthday song and they love it,” he said.

Pedro Young has heard a song or two.

“He makes you feel like you're wanted and you're needed and he does that for everybody," Young said.

Young sits down regularly as a customer.  He's retired from law enforcement and says quite a few beers met their demise but not once did officers have to go to Bill's Place for a brawl.

The barkeeper has a twinkle in his eye but will turn the tables if anyone speaks as much as a four-letter word.

“He would come up and admonish you the first time, the second time you was gone,” Young said.

"Somebody would say I'm going to cause trouble, no you aren't," Bill said. "This place is just for being good.” 

He has a cookie jar for the kids, a humble hot plate that has gotten a lot of use frying up wings and warming up pizza, and a sentiment for every person walking out the door.

“When you left I said be careful, have a good one and love you guys,” Bill said.

Bill's Place is only about 500 square feet but he still has room for tomato plants outside. 

Last summer Bill fell and broke his hip. Dec. 31 is the last call at Bill's Place.

“Old age is catching up on me,” Bill said.

“Oh yeah that's why all of us have been trying to help him since he broke his hip,” Young said.

Bill doesn't want to be a burden.

So he'll take his memories and know he's made a difference.

“Great life and I have beautiful people here. Wow, they're terrific," he said.

This bartender with a tender heart built his business by transforming the local watering hole into a welcoming home, few in Fitzgerald will forget.

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