FERRIDAY — When Ferriday Mayor Glen McGlothin walked through the doors of Will Haney’s Big House Tuesday night, he had no idea that on the other side were friends, family and co-workers ready to surprise him.

A farewell party for the four-term mayor, whose last day in office is Friday, was disguised as an after hours business mixer at the music hall hosted by the Concordia Chamber of Commerce.

“I had no idea this is what it was going to be, so I was really surprised,” McGlothin said. “It was really nice of them to do this, because they didn’t have to do any of this.”

A crowd of several dozen Concordians were in attendance to show their support for McGlothin — including Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland, who regaled the audience with tales of a young McGlothin growing up on Mississippi Avenue.

“I’ve known Glen for so long it was back when he still had hair,” Copeland said laughing. “When Glen started talking about running for mayor the last election he just said, ‘That’s my hometown, and I have to go back and support my hometown’

“The Town of Ferriday is going to miss him greatly.”

Rep. Andy Anders, D-Vidalia, presented McGlothin with a certificate from the House of Representatives and the Speaker of the House.

“Problems are just opportunities in disguise, and Glen’s had a lot of problems that he’s turned into opportunities,” Anders said. “We wanted to present this to Glen for his continued service to the Town of Ferriday and the citizens of Louisiana.”

After several speakers told their own stories about a young soon-to-be mayor, McGlothin was quick to recount his own versions of the same stories.

“Hyram and them used to put me in a wagon and roll me down Mississippi Avenue into the sewer,” McGlothin said. “We couldn’t speak English, so they didn’t pay any attention to us.

“But I do appreciate all of this, and I’ll still be around — I’m not going anywhere.”

McGlothin served two terms as mayor from 1988 to 1996, again in 2000 to 2004 and his most recent term from 2008 to 2012.

Deciding not to run for mayor of Ferriday again wasn’t the easiest decision he’s done, but McGlothin said he knows it was the right one.

“I just couldn’t handle the politicking and the election,” McGlothin said. “It’s not that I didn’t want to serve this town, because I love Ferriday, I just couldn’t handle running again.”

And even without going through the qualifying process and politicking, McGlothin said it didn’t hit him until he went to cast his ballot.

“It was strange not seeing my name on that ballot,” McGlothin said. “It was different, that’s for sure.”

But soon after he closed that door, another brand new door opened at the new Vidalia City Hall, where McGlothin will soon work.

“There’s a lot of projects going on in Vidalia, and I’m going to try and help Hyram the best I can,” McGlothin said. “I told him I’d be anything from chief cook to bottle washer.

“I just wasn’t ready to be done helping Concordia Parish.”