Few people in Austin have more energy than John Gray.

The longtime Austin resident may have moved here unwillingly — he was 7 years old at the time, so he likes to say he didn’t have a say in the matter — but he has spent decades dedicating his time to making the Austin area better through volunteering, his work at Hormel Foods Corp., and his stewardship over the Hormel Foundation’s finances.

Yet Gray, 68, isn’t the kind of man who can take a break. He retired as the assistant secretary/treasurer of the foundation on April 30 not to take a break from work, but to take on more projects, travels and volunteer opportunities.

“I’m not the kind of guy that can stay home and sit on his butt,” Gray said with a laugh. “I always have to be doing something. I’m just wired like that.”

Gray has long been a fixture within the Austin community. He began as a clerk in Hormel’s accounting department in 1970. Before long, he decided he wanted to do more than remain a clerk, so he took classes from Austin Community College and Minnesota State University — Mankato.

Gray earned his associate degree and bachelor’s degree in accounting within the same quarter.

It was there he began working in management in about 1980, and by the time he retired from Hormel in 2010, he was cash manager for the whole company.

Of course, Gray seems to always take on more jobs than most would. In 1988, he was offered a part-time gig running the books for the foundation. That soon turned into a full-time job — the job he left last week.

“He’s just been a great ally to work with,” Hormel Foundation Executive Director Gary Ray said. “He’s truly going to be missed and not only is he a great foundation employee but just an outstanding individual in the community.”

The foundation has matched Hormel’s record growth over the past 15 years, and Gray is pleased to have been part of many foundation milestones since he started in 1988. Of the $118 million given away by the foundation over its 75-year history, the foundation gave $110 away during Gray’s tenure.

Gray also watched the foundation grow from $50 million in assets in 1988 to $7.4 billion as of this year.

“It is truly an honor and privilege to have served the community along with the foundation,” Gray said.

Sheri Dankert took over Gray’s position at the foundation.

During Gray’s tenure at the foundation, Gray also found a passion for community service. He went from helping out at church functions to participating in countless committees, projects and efforts for the city over the years. He still volunteers with about 15 groups in the community.

“It’s been really grateful to be able to have somebody that you know has got a pulse on the community and brings great insight into what’s going on in the community,” Ray said.

Gray has even earned accolades for his volunteerism. He graduated from the Blandin Community Leadership Foundation in 2010 and was inducted into the Minnesota State United States Bowling Congress Association Hall of Fame in 2012. That’s not counting all of the various projects he’s shepherded into fruition.

“He’s fun to work with, he’s an upbeat guy,” Mayor Tom Stiehm said. “He’s one of those guys who’s always in a good mood.”

Gray has been integral as a Vision 2020 volunteer. He served on Vision 2020’s steering committee since its inception in 2012 as a representative of the foundation. Though he’ll no longer be on the steering committee, he’s still the co-chair of Vision 2020’s Gateway to Austin Committee, which is focused on not only transforming the Interstate 90 corridor but creating a new visitor center for Austin.

“Vision 2020 was a perfect fit for me,” he said.

Laura Helle, Vision 2020’s director of vision creation, lauded Gray’s efforts as a Vision 2020 volunteer and praised his work ethic.

“We’re happy he’s continuing to work with Vision 2020,” she said. “He really puts his heart and soul into a lot of what he does, and he’s an asset to Austin for sure.”

Despite his ongoing work with Vision 2020, the ARC Mower County, the Salvation Army, the Mower County Humane Society, the United Way of Mower County, and the Karl Potach Foundation, among other groups, Gray actually will find more time for his family.

“My wife and I have always wanted to travel, so I wanted to quit while we’re still able to,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of places we want to go.”

Aside from trips ranging from Florida to the New England states, Gray also plans to get some long-awaited yard and home improvement projects done, as well as go on a few more walks. He hopes to encourage more people to volunteer around the community.

It’s hard to imagine where he’ll find the time, however.

“I like to stay busy,” he said.