Surrounded by friends, loved ones, and city and county officials, Kenny Goza celebrated his retirement as customer service representative of Entergy after 40 years of service to the utility and the community Wednesday afternoon.

“I remember starting in 1974. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. I will be moving on, but I will miss Entergy deeply,” Goza said at a reception in his honor, held at the Entergy office on Highway 51.

“I’ve been blessed. I’ve been extremely fortunate to work with the group here. It is a family. A family that gets the job done,” Goza said.

Goza has worn a variety of hats in the area community over the years.

In recent years, he has played an instrumental role with the Lincoln County Mississippi Scholars. Under Goza’s mentorship, the program has seen great success over the years.

Since 2006, Mississippi Scholars has helped 1,124 students and offered more than $635,000 in scholarship funds in Lincoln County. The program has provided a

financial means for students to continue their education. It has also developed a sense of community service with area students, according to Goza.

Now, Goza said he will work as a project manager with the Mississippi Economic Council, sponsoring agency for Mississippi Scholars in the state. His particular focus at the MEC will be on the new Tech Master program, which is associated with Mississippi Scholars.

Goza has been a longtime volunteer with the MEC, and he intends to bring his successful blueprint for the scholars’ program to other Mississippi localities. The new position is a full-time job, Goza said.

“With the MEC, I have a little bit more responsibility. I’ll be traveling all across the state. Our goal is to share some of the secrets to success that we have employed in our region to get kids interested in pursuing their education.”

Goza will also continue serving on the Brookhaven Housing Board and the Copiah-Lincoln Career and Technical Advisory Board.

At Wednesday’s party, Goza reminded the gathering that despite the new position, he will still live in Brookhaven.

“This is my home. I’m not moving, just changing careers. I will still be involved with community efforts here.”

“Kenny has been an asset to us and to the community. It has been a pleasure working with him,” said Eddie Dixon, Entergy’s continuous-improvement manager. “We wish him well into the future.”

Thursday morning, Goza reflected on his retirement party.

“I feel deeply honored that so many people showed up. I’m kind of surprised that it would be this big of a deal. It’s a good feeling,” said Goza.