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Sun, Aug 2, 2026

“If you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s not work": 92-year-old leaves retirement to work at Chick-fil-A

“If you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s not work": 92-year-old leaves retirement to work at Chick-fil-A

At 92 years old, Gilbert Martin says retirement just isn't for him.

At the tender young age of 80, he retired from his longstanding career in the natural gas industry and went to work as a greeter at Sam's Club for the next twelve years. When his position was eliminated recently, the Wilmington, North Carolina, man tried giving leisure a try, but he told WECT News,

After two months, I got bored and put in an application.

Since that time, he's become a fixture at the Wilmington Chick-fil-A, working in the dining room from Monday through Friday every week.

Martin, or Mr. Gil as his Chick-fil-A coworkers call him, says that his job allows him to use his God-given gifts to encourage the customers he interacts with every day.

Mike Perdue, owner and operator of Chick-fil-A in Wilmington, told reporters that the customers really love Mr. Gil, saying,

He had to take a couple days off, I think he had a cold. People were so concerned, it was crazy, ‘Where's Mr. Gil? Is he okay?'

He's a great person, you don't come across too many people like that.

Thankfully, Mr. Gil is doing great, loves his job, and has no plans to retire (again) anytime soon. He went on to say,

I don't know what 92 is supposed to feel like, but I feel great.

Like one of those old Bowflex ads!

Watch Gilbert here:

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