(KAIR)--Special honors for a longtime Atchison businessman, who's stepping down at the end of the month following 56-years in his role.

The spotlight was placed on John H. Mize at the start of Monday's Atchison City Commission Meeting, with a proclamation in honor of Mize, the executive chairman and chairman of the board of the Blish-Mize company, read aloud by Mayor Allen Reavis. “Whereas John Mize has reached this milestone with pride, dignity and grace, and will retire on May 31, 2018, therefore, I Allen Reavis, Mayor of the City of Atchison, Kansas, do declare May 31, 2018 as John Mize Day in the City of Atchison, Kansas.”

Mize stood beside Reavis as the proclamation was read, shaking the Mayor's hand at its conclusion and thanking him for the honor.

Mize was joined in the Commission Chambers at Atchison City Hall by members of his family, including his granddaughter, Snowden Connor, who spoke once the proclamation was read. “For our school, we do a project, you get to pick a project every year, and you study either a place or a thing, and I picked Atchison this year, and I learned many cool, interesting facts, from my Grandpa, and my Grandma, and I just learned it's a really cool city.”

John Mize's granddaughter, Snowden Connor, tells the Atchison City Commission about a school project, focused on Atchison, which Mize assisted her with/Photo Credit: Facebook

According to a news release issued by the Blish-Mize company, Mize began his full-time employment in 1962, and held sales territories in Colorado in Nebraska. He was later promoted to field sales manager and traveled the company's entire servicing area.

Mize held the position of chairman, president and CEO for about 35 years, during which time the news release says the company saw incredible growth and acquisitions under his leadership.

Mize, calling Blish-Mize “a family-owned, employee-focused company,” said in the release that he looks back on the history and feels “gratitude to so many who have shown their faith” to the company.

Following his retirement, Mize will continue to serve as chairman of the board.