PORT ALLEN — In the city of Port Allen, the familiar face of meter reader Terry Coye peddling along city streets has become a steady part of the landscape. Now, after nearly 30 years, Terry Coye is retiring but not without a trove of memories and friendships established over decades on the job.
In 1996, following a life changing accident, Coye began reading water meters for the city of Port Allen. He told UWK, it’s a job in which you always have to make sure you report things accurately or you could upset customers.
“Meter reading to me is be good on your numbers because you’re messing with everybody’s’ money. When you get these numbers, you want to be right because the customers can get angry,” Coye said.
While Coye used to drive his truck to work, when Port Allen City Hall was moved downtown many years ago, Coye ditched the truck for a bicycle.
Since then, the image of Coye riding along Port Allen’s downtown streets on his bicycle has become just as synonymous with the area as the river that runs through the city.
On that bicycle, Coye got a first-hand glimpse of every-day life in the cozy little city.
“Early in the morning, I’d seen all the kids going to school, some carpooling with Holy Family. Noontime, I had some lady, she would always wave at me as a ritual,” Coye said.
While Coye has retired from full-time work as a meter reader, that doesn’t mean he is any less involved in the community and is looking forward to spending more time with neighbors and friends.
“It’s a blessing to be at this point in my life, and I know people have been through this,” Coye said. “I’m taking retirement day by day and living life as God wanted you to.”
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