For some people, retirement means catching up on honey-do chores, fishing or playing rounds of golf, or maybe taking trips to those bucket-list destinations. For Earl Cashon, manager of the Pancake House at the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair, retirement may mean those things, but it also means much, much more.
For quite a few years, Earl has helped coordinate the efforts of Kiwanis members who work to provide pancake and sausage dinners at the Kiwanis Club’s annual fair. Itself a destination for many patrons, the Pancake House takes a considerable amount of effort, not just during fair week, but months prior as the facility is maintained, equipment upgraded, and supplies ordered and stocked to provide this popular dining option for one week each October.
Aside from his many responsibilities at the Pancake House, Earl also serves on the House Committee (among others) for the Kiwanis Club, helping coordinate each week’s meal for Kiwanians and guests, as well as any other club events requiring hospitality and food. While the Kiwanis Club is certainly a large focus of Earl’s interests, he also helps with other church and community happenings, such as family night suppers at Pittman Park United Methodist Church, meals for Walk to Emmaus events, and providing meals for summer camps at the 7th Mile Ranch.
An obvious common thread in many of Earl’s interests is serving food—something at which he is obviously very good, given the numerous organizations who call on him for help. With a long-held interest in cooking, Earl understands that food not only feeds the stomach, but also the soul. Allowing people to gather around a table to fellowship and share experiences, in addition to a good meal, is Earl’s way of giving back to others. Earl certainly isn’t the type to bark orders and sit back and collect accolades—he most often is actually cooking, serving, and cleaning up for whatever function he may be supporting. When asked some questions for this story, in typical Earl style, he said, “You don’t need to do a story on me, I like being in the background.”
Just add humble to Earl’s list of accolades!
A native of Anderson, S.C., Earl has lived in Statesboro for 34 years. He moved to Statesboro to open and manage the Russell Union at what was then Georgia Southern College. Retiring in 2005, he quickly began filling his time with activities such as the ones already mentioned, but also by teaching Sunday School at his church, serving on the Georgia Southern Retirees Council, and even with all those activities to fill his time, he plays golf every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (when he can). Married to Helen, the Cashons have two children, Trey and Candi, and two grandchildren, Cash and Beau.
Some may say Earl has failed at retirement, working long hard hours at any number of different tasks in support of multiple organizations, but what he has really done is flourished at having a meaningful, purpose driven retirement. He is deliberate in spending the golden years of his life serving others, and that can only be looked on as a rousing success!
