Longtime Big Cedar employee, 97, retires

Provided by Big Cedar Lodge

Johnny Morris, left, hosts a retirement party for Emil Martinka at Big Cedar Lodge.

A 97-year-old longtime employee of Big Cedar Lodge has hung up his hat.

Emil Martinka retired June 30 after nearly three decades with the Table Rock Lake resort owned by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, according to a news release issued this week. A retirement party was held July 27.

"I love the 28 years that Johnny and Jeanie put up with me; they have been very good to me all of these years," Martinka said in the release of Morris and his wife. “I love Big Cedar. It’s been a wonderful place for me all of these years."

Martinka most recently worked in security at the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum at Top of the Rock. One of Big Cedar's longest tenured employees, he started his career at the lodge as a shuttle driver and gardener.

Prior to joining Big Cedar, Martinka lived in Minnesota after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, according to the release.