Samir “Sam” Royal, who has been in charge of the city of Ceres Public Works Department since December 2021, retired last week.

“It’s time to move on, time to enjoy life,” said Royal. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for the longest time.”

Royal gave the city notice in August that he would likely be retiring at the end of January and hadn’t heard if a replacement has been found.

Josh Casas is the acting Public Works director, said Ceres City Manager Doug Dunford. He said recruiting Royal’s replacement has been unsuccessful so there may be a possibility that Casas will be overseeing the department until the end of the year.

Royal said the city has a great crew at the corporation yard where he works.

“It’s been a pleasure serving the city. I’m leaving with good feelings, I have no grudges. It’s just time to step away and let a new face take over.”

Royal plans to remain living in Turlock where he can tend to his aging mother’s needs – his dad died about a month ago – but also spend longer vacation stays at his condo in Beirut, Lebanon, where he was raised. He has dual citizenship with the United States and Lebanon.

“Lebanon is a very small country. You want to be away from the south because it’s getting bombarded quite a bit by the Israelis. But I live in the northwest side of the city which is different world. It’s very peaceful.”

Royal’s family fled to the United States in 1976 because of the civil war tearing apart his homeland. He was 14 years old when the family landed in Chicago. Royal earned his degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois in Chicago in 1986. He also studied at Triton College in River Grove, Ill.

Royal began his career with the city on Sept. 12, 2016, as an associate engineer in the Engineering Department. He previously worked 12 years with the city of Merced.

In 2004 he came to California after being offered a position as an engineer technician by the city of Merced.

Filling his shoes may prove to be a difficult task since the job requires knowledge and experience in streets, sewer, facilities, and parks and recreation. In 2023 the city was unable to recruit for the replacement of Jeremy Damas after seven months of trying.

If the city gets in a bind, Royal said he’ll be available to “help out any way I can.” They may be tapping into his knowledge about plans to revamp the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

For 1978 to 2007 the Public Works Director position was filled by Joe Hollstein who also doubled as city engineer. Phil Scott occupied the position from 2007 to 2010. Glenn Gebhardt doubled as city engineer and public works director in 2010. Mike Brinton then served as public works director and acting city engineer with the help of consultants. When Brinton left Jeremy Damas took charge of the Public Works Department.