Bruce Murman is living proof to the contrary.

For nearly 46 years, Murman has been a mainstay in the Hy-Vee family. Murman’s track record as an active Fort Dodge community member covers the same amount of ground. It’s a level of consistency, loyalty and commitment very few reach in the professional ranks anymore.

Murman’s secret? Always adding a personal touch to everything he’s done.

“Maybe some of it is just my natural (disposition), but so much of my work time has been spent building relationships and trying my best to make a difference in the lives of people I know,” Murman said. “I was ‘raised’ that way, so to speak, through my mentors and bosses at Hy-Vee. I’ve been very fortunate. Some of it may be timing or luck, but a lot of it stems from always investing in our stores, in Fort Dodge, and in the people around me.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Bruce Murman, of Fort Dodge, stands at the front of the Fort Dodge Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits store. Murman retired this past Monday after nearly 46 years with the company.

“If you believe in them and are able to have them believe in you, good things happen. But you have to be sincere and genuine about it. Lead by example.”

Murman, who will be 62 years old next month, clocked out for the final time at his Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits store — the one he helped open nearly 20 years ago — this past Monday. His Hy-Vee career touched six different decades, countless co-workers and a slew of different positions.

“I couldn’t be more proud,” said Murman, a 1980 Fort Dodge Senior High School and 1982 Iowa Central Community College graduate. “Hy-Vee has been good to me, and I’ve been good to Hy-Vee. I felt like I was always growing with the company, and was fortunate enough to have many different opportunities come around along the way.

“I learned from so many people. They really made a difference in my life in a lot of ways. Hopefully someday, (younger workers) will say the same about me.”

Murman’s Hy-Vee journey began as a part-time worker just after his 16th birthday in 1978. His father, Arthur, was raised in the Manson/Palmer area, and he helped get his son’s foot in the door with Hy-Vee assistant manager and long-time Palmer resident Daryl Kruse.

“I really fell in love with the people, the managers, I enjoyed the culture…the Hy-Vee way,” Murman said. “I was hooked by my junior year in high school.”

Murman’s tenure has been extensive. He has served as a produce manager, a shift manager, an assistant manager, a bakery manager, a human resource manager, and since 2005, the Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits store manager.

Stops in Faribault, Minnesota, Des Moines and Johnston came early, but Fort Dodge has been home for the bulk of Murman’s Hy-Vee tenure.

“Dee (Murman’s wife) and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about living here and being able to raise our kids (Brian and Beth) as Dodgers,” Murman said. “We are both (FDSH graduates), but when you’re young, you’re not really sure if you want home to be ‘home’ as a young adult.

“Instead, we were able to be around both (sets of) grandparents and see our kids grow up, thrive and flourish here. We were able to be both nostalgic and confident in what they learned and the way they were able to write their own stories in Fort Dodge. There were some visions of bigger-city living early on, but looking back now, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Murman has worked under Hy-Vee store managers Bill Bloom, Dick Handy, Greg Dressen, Tim Flaherty and current boss Lindsey Flanigan.

“They’ve all been influential in their own ways,” Murman said. “So many great ones. Dick Handy was like a father to me. He took me under his wing at a young age. With Greg, we were named store of the year at Fort Dodge (when Murman was the assistant) in 1992. Tim started as a part-timer under me in high school. He became a close friend and our store director (Flaherty passed away in 2021). Lindsey and (current store operations manager) David Scott have been terrific.

“It’s a collective effort at Hy-Vee. I wish I could name everyone who I either worked for, worked with or who worked under me. It’s truly been like a family.”

Scott said, “to me, Bruce is Hy-Vee.”

“He is not only a great leader, but a better mentor and a friend to everyone he meets,” Scott added.

Murman has made an impact beyond the walls of the various stores in which he has worked through his participation in various groups and projects.

He is a member of the Fort Dodge Tennis Association and has served as its president. He is also a member of Noon Sertoma, the Character Counts board, Rotary Club, the Staff Parish Committee at Trinity United Methodist Church, the Fort Dodge Senior High School Booster Club and the fundraising board for the UnityPoint Health Cancer Center.

Additionally, he has helped to organize and run the Fort Dodge Junior Open Tennis Tournament.

Murman has been mapping out his official retirement date for a little over a year.

“I just thought it was time,” said Murman, who was given a Hy-Vee Legendary Customer Service award in 2012 and received an Iowa Central Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame honor in 2015. “After 46 years of serving the public in this capacity…a lot of nights, weekends and holidays. I’m getting to that age and everything started to add up. This works best for a more flexible schedule. We’ll be able to do some traveling and visit Brian (who lives in western Iowa) and Beth (who is in Minnesota) more.

“I’m sure I’ll stay plenty busy. I’m looking forward to a different pace and new adventures.”

Flanigan called Murman a “legend.”

“Bruce is the epitome of what Hy-Vee stands for,” said Flanigan, who has been the store director of the Fort Dodge location since 2021. “For 46 years, Bruce has been an example and a mentor to so many in our company. His loyalty and dedication to his job has never gone unnoticed.

“Employees and customers will truly miss him. Congratulations to Bruce on a well-deserved retirement.”

Murman knows he’s walking away with his professional cup filled to the brim.

“I felt like I made a difference. I hope I did,” Murman said. “I have been touched by thousands of employees and customers in my career. I always treated people with respect, and if there was a job to do in my store, I’d do it. I found a company that was going to be supportive and have a creative vision. I gave it my all and have loved my community.

“Hy-Vee, and Fort Dodge, have been wonderful places both to and for my family. I am truly blessed.”