Today (April 27) has been declared “Mike Wilder Day.”

Following the Boyle County Fiscal Court meeting Tuesday morning, the county’s Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Wilder was greeted by many of his colleagues, friends and family who wished him well and shared stories about how he has been, and still is, important in their lives.

Wilder plans on retiring in January, but people wanted to show their love and appreciation for all of his work now. Wilder said he was battling with health issues and joked that he had “one foot on a banana peel and one foot in the grave.” But he also plans on continuing to be EMA director until the end of January and play golf with his buddies.

Wilder has also been deputy coroner since 1972 and has served under four county judge-executives, including his younger brother, Tony Wilder.

Current Judge Executive Howard Hunt read from a proclamation declaring April 27, as Mike Wilder Day. He said that Wilder was the “voice and face” of emergency response in Boyle County.