By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – Ask Steve Spray why he’s the worker he is, and he’ll tell you it’s “pretty simple.”

“We try to give everybody a positive experience here,” Spray, an employee at Chick-fil-A in Madison, said. “It’s not a business standpoint the way I see it. We try to treat everybody the way we want to be treated.”

By many accounts, Spray extends courtesy to all patrons at the restaurant but makes it a point to thank every personnel member with fire and police departments, in addition to EMS workers and other first responders.

Triana Fire Chief Ruben Flores wanted to make sure Spray’s dedication to “putting smiles” on people’s faces didn’t go unnoticed when Flores presented him with a service cup and hat from his department to show appreciation.

“He would always say to be safe, and would never forget to say, ‘Thank you for your service,’” Flores said.

Spray, who lives in Toney and is retired from a human-resources career at Intergraph Corporation, also works two other part-time jobs in the food industry. The workload keeps him busy, he said, but he finds time to attend church on Sundays – his “day of rest.”

He has been working at the Madison Chick-fil-A since 2010, Spray said, and his primary duties are to make sure the dining area is clean and patrons are attended to, especially during busy Saturday lunch times when Flores gave Spray his recognition on June 13.

“I just like to help others,” Spray said. “I never cease to be amazed that something I do or say touches somebody.”

“He’s very humble and makes all of us first responders want to come back,” Flores said.

Before getting back to work after Flores recognized him, Spray commended the rest of the Chick-fil-A team for creating the positive atmosphere.

“This is a team effort,” Spray said.