Law director Mike Minister will retire at the end of the year, bringing to a close a 48-year history with the city of Worthington.

"I want to enjoy some retirement time," said the 68-year-old Minister, who started with the city when he was a 20-year-old college student.

He graduated from Worthington High School in 1962 and then worked his way through Ohio State University as a police dispatcher, firefighter, medic and, in 1966, as an administrative intern.

After college, he served in the Navy for almost four years and then returned to Worthington.

He was director of administration and taxation and, in 1974, was acting city manager for 10 months.

He attended Capital University Law School at night. He earned his law degree in 1974, when he took a position with the firm of Gingher & Christenson, which later became Baker & Hostetler.

He never left the city, though, serving as law director when he worked for those Columbus law firms.

He attended council meetings and provided legal counsel and opinions when called upon.

In January 2007, he retired from Baker & Hostetler and went to work full time for the city.

Minister also has served the central Ohio community as a volunteer. For nearly 25 years, he served in some capacity on the board of OhioHealth and Riverside Hospital.

"I really enjoy volunteerism," he said. "I will look for an opportunity to help out an organization or two."