A 92-year-old North Carolina man got so bored 2 months into retirement that he applied to work at Chick-fil-A...

His name is Gilbert Martin.

Everybody calls him "Mr. Gil."

Mr. Gil is 92 years old, and works at the Chick-fil-A on Oleander Drive in Wilmington, NC.

He spent decades working in the natural gas industry and when he retired, he greeted people at Sam's Club for 12 MORE years, until they eliminated his position.

Most people would call that a sign to finally rest, but not Mr. Gil!

Two months into retirement, he got bored... so he walked into Chick-fil-A and put in an application.

He was 86 years old at the time.

He's been there ever since.

Not one or two shifts a week either. Monday through Friday.

He says the full schedule gives him more chances to be there for people who need him.

His official job is dining host.

Clean tables.

Clean floors.

But Mr Gil doesn't see it that way... as he describes it, his real job is:

A 92-year-old North Carolina man got so bored 2 months into retirement that he applied to work at Chick-fil-A... ...his smile, kindness, and passion for Jesus became so contagious that when he got sick and missed 3 days of work, an ENTIRE TOWN began asking where he was. His name is Gilbert Martin. Everybody calls him "Mr. Gil." Mr. Gil is 92 years old, and works at the Chick-fil-A on Oleander Drive in Wilmington, NC. He spent decades working in the natural gas industry and when he retired, he greeted people at Sam's Club for 12 MORE years, until they eliminated his position. Most people would call that a sign to finally rest, but not Mr. Gil! Two months into retirement, he got bored... so he walked into Chick-fil-A and put in an application. He was 86 years old at the time. He's been there ever since. Not one or two shifts a week either. Monday through Friday. He says the full schedule gives him more chances to be there for people who need him. His official job is dining host. Clean tables. Clean floors. But Mr Gil doesn't see it that way... as he describes it, his real job is: "I get a lot of people that are coming in, just been to the doctor, and got bad news... I'm able to be an encourager; the Lord gave me that." A 92-year-old man who could be resting at home... chooses to stand in a dining room five days a week... so strangers on the worst day of their lives don't have to be alone. And Wilmington noticed. When Mr. Gil caught a cold and missed a couple of days, the owner said he was FLOODED with HUNDREDS of customers who were panicked about him. Mr. Gil has zero plans to retire. He says if you ever see him working, come say hi. "I don't know what 92 is supposed to feel like, but I feel great. Serving others has always brought me joy because I believe that a smile and a kind word can make someone's day a little brighter.” We need more of this!!!!!

— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol)October 9, 2026