By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Not everyone can say they like their job.
Even fewer people can say they still enjoy what they do at the age of 90.
And just one man, Doyle Archer, Logan, can say he's the "Oldest Truck/Lorry/Heavy Goods Vehicle Male Driver."
Archer, a driver for Coomes, Inc., trucking company in Phillipsburg, was recently admitted into the Guinness Book of World Records after winning the title at the age of 90 years and 55 days.
The previous record holder was 88 years and 3 days old.
Archer has been a leased driver for Coomes, a second and third-generation owned and operated trucking company, since 2004.
During the 16-week process of submitting his entry and qualifying for the Guinness recognition, Archer also received the "Million Mile Safe Driving" award presented by Coomes, Inc. and their insurance company for traveling a million miles without an accident.
He's been running big rigs for more than 60 years and takes pride in being a very good defensive driver.
"There's a lot of aggressive people out here on the roads," he said.
"I enjoy my job very much," Archer said.
Despite the changes to his profession and challenges such as weather, traffic, shippers and receivers, he has no plans for retirement.
"As long as my health holds, I'll keep driving. I don't have the word retire in my vocabulary," Archer said.
Archer has hauled just about everything you can move in a truck, from livestock and grains, hazardous liquid materials such as chemicals and petroleum to grocery stock, huge paper rolls, and aircraft equipment.
The best part of his job, Archer said, is traveling the country.
"I've driven all 48 states in the continental U.S. and five provinces in Canada. I've got to meet a lot of people from many different parts of the world," he said.
He estimated he's driven about 5.5 million miles - so far - in his career.
"He's such a joy," said Karlie Wolever, a dispatcher for Coomes in Phillipsburg.
"Doyle has been a part of this industry for so long and has witnessed many changes. He never grumbles about any of it.
"A lot of loads require tracking, which is done by downloading different apps on your smartphone and going through the steps," Wolever said. "At 90, he operates that like it is no big deal. He is a good texter, which I feel is very uncommon for someone his age.
"He just really is a delight and breath of fresh air. Ornery as they come, but as sweet as honey."
Wolever is the employee who talked to Doyle about his career, realizing he might be a record-holder, and helped gather all of the required verifying information to submit to Guinness. She was working on plans for Coomes' 60th-anniversary celebration next month when the idea came to her.
"It was an interesting process that we had to go through in order to get him submitted and approved," Wolever said.
The official plaque certifying the Guinness record arrived at the Coomes office Tuesday. Archer already has his certificate and bragging rights.
"It gives me great pride to have such an honor," he said.
Archer will also be featured in an upcoming article for the Owner Operator Independent Driver Association, said Wolever.
Archer intended to work on the family farm after graduating with an agriculture degree from Fort Hays State College in 1956 but had to leave due to severe asthma and other health problems. He became involved in the trucking industry in 1961 and started driving in 1964.
He's traveled cross-country numerous times and always sees something different, "but my favorite will always be the wheat fields of the High Plains in June and July."
After raising their family of nine children, his wife Lois, 86, whom he married in 1954, started riding along with Doyle occasionally.
Lois and Doyle also have 25 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
It's her homemade food that he attributes to his good health.
"I've always ate well. Lois has always fed me good food," he said.
He takes her home-cooked food on the road with him.
"I have a refrigerator and deep-freeze in my truck," he said.
"That's probably what kept me healthy for a long time," Doyle said.