Portia Williams | Daily Times

Keith Maynard has been employed with Scioto Ribber for 23 years and will relocate to Tennessee.

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Portia Williams

PDT Staff Writer

It was a bittersweet day at the Scioto Ribber Friday as the business owner and staff held a farewell party for Keith Maynard. Maynard has worked for the Ribber for 23 years, and will be relocating to Tennessee to be closer to his family.

According to Darren Mault, a co-owner of Scioto Ribber, Maynard has cerebral palsy and acquired employment at the Ribber through Star Inc. He worked in a variety of capacities behind the scenes at restaurant.

“We are definitely going to miss him. He has been a part of the family here,” Mault said. “He came here in 1990 through the STAR who helped to find a job placement for Keith. Between my staff and the workers at STAR, we helped to make him feel right at home.”

According to its website, STAR INC. is a not-for-profit corporation the with the goal of putting people with developmental disabilities into the workforce. Closely associated with the Scioto County Board of DD, STAR, Inc. operates the County Board’s Community Employment Program.

Will Mault, co-owner of the Ribber said they are sad about Maynard leaving.

“When they brought him over here from the STAR workshop, we hired him and he has been here ever since. We are really going to miss Keith,” Mault said.

Maynard took time to reflect his impressive run at the local culinary institution that is The Ribber.

“I have really liked working here, and I will miss all of the people the most,” Maynard said.

Birdie Wallace a former manager of the Ribber, said Maynard was an inspiration.

“To watch Keith work and to see what he could do with physical challenges, was really something. His work ethic is so good, better than most people that do not have the challenges that he does. He does an wonderful job and that should be an inspiration to all of us,” Wallace said.

According to Wallace, Maynard’s relocation to Tennessee will take him close to members of his family.

“His mother, brother and sisters live in Tennessee. His brother built him a home down there right beside them, just in case he needs any help or anything,” Wallace said.

Maynard said he plans to come back in the future to see his friends at The Ribber.

“I will be back. I will come back to visit,” Maynard said.

Portia William may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 286 or portiawilliams@civitasmedia.com. For breaking news, follow Portia on Twitter @ PortiaWillPDT