Lewisburg, WV [WVDN] – Buried amongst the scenic routes of Lewisburg, there exists untold stories and an unparalleled sense of community, especially amongst those who work behind the scenes to keep the town spick and span. Dale Treadway and Tony Cutlip are Lewisburg’s dedicated sanitation engineers, working their way through our neighborhoods, humbly collecting our trash, week after week, year after year, like clockwork. Their dedication to service rivals the postal service.
Even though most of us don’t know their names, Treadway and Cutlip have become a critical part of everyone’s lives and extend their roles beyond mere service providers. Not only do Treadway and Cutlip show up like clockwork regardless of the weather, they also go the extra mile to assist the elderly if needed, ensuring their cans are taken back, and their trash is properly managed. It’s not simply about maintaining cleanliness; it’s about ensuring that every resident, especially those who may find the task of managing their waste challenging, feels seen, assisted, and respected. These gestures, though seemingly minor, reflect a community bound by mutual care and a collective responsibility toward the well-being of every individual within it.
Treadway and Cutlip are this week’s West Virginia Daily News Greenbrier County Heroes.
[WVDN] How long have you lived in Greenbrier County?
Treadway is a Greenbrier County native and has lived here since 1963. He’s been driving the Lewisburg route for about five years. Cutlip was born in Bluefield but has lived in Greenbrier County for a long time. He has worked the Lewisburg City limits route for seven years. Treadway gets the comfy truck cab job, while Cutlip hangs off the back and collects the trash, impervious to the weather. Well, he says he dresses for the occasion.
[WVDN] What is the most interesting piece of trash you’ve found?
We find a little bit of everything, and we always know what’s going on. But we leave all the secrets in the trash, we don’t tell any gossip!
[WVDN] What is the most satisfying thing about your jobs?
We like taking care of the place and making sure everyone’s taken care of. We try to help the elderly and take their cans back, help them out and get their trash out for them.
[WVDN] If you could spend an hour with any West Virginian, who would it be?
Cutlip said he would spend it with his wife. Treadway said he’d spend it with his old-timey neighbors that he grew up with, as they knew so much and were filled with knowledge and experience.
The next time you see Treadway and Cutlip out front collecting your trash, wave hello and congratulate them on being our community’s heroes of the week.
About The Greenbrier County Hero
Greenbrier County Hero is a weekly column highlighting interesting people living in Greenbrier County. The column was originally named “Meet a Greenbrier Countian,” which ran in The West Virginia Daily News for multiple decades. If you know of a person or organization that embodies the spirit of humanitarian service, volunteerism and/or has exceptional talent, please, let us know! Send your nominations to hero@wvdn.com.
