This column serves as a spotlight, highlighting the everyday people who work and live in Callaway County. The Fulton Sun takes a moment with someone who is not usually featured in the news but is just as instrumental in making our community the strong and beautiful place we all know and love.
Tony Ferrugia, 71, is a Fulton native who splits his time between Fulton and St. Louis. Ferrugia attended St. Peter's and Fulton High School. Ferrugia has three children and two grandchildren. He lived in St. Louis and eventually began spending more time in Fulton, where he now has a farm. Ferrugia is a retired financial analyst.
Q: What was your first job?
Mowing lawns. (Follow up question: Did you like it?) Did I like it? I liked the money.
Q: Who inspires you most?
There's been a number of people, but I'd say my dad, Frank, and my wife, Pat, are the two that I would mention. That's why I spent my life with my wife and my dad, I just think he's a great guy.
Q: What in your life has been the most fulfilling?
My kids - I have three boys. And my grandkids - I have two. They all live in St. Louis. That's why I spend time there.
Q: What is something you are proud of?
I'm proud of my career accomplishments.
Q: If you could do any job in the world what would it be?
I was doing the job that I wanted to do - a security analyst. I've always enjoyed the stock market. It's basically a problem-solving job and that's what I like about it.
Q: What job would you not want to do?
Well, I wouldn't want to insult anybody who does the work maybe a job where I didn't come into contact with people and it was very repetitive everyday.
Q: What is something people wouldn't guess about you?
I don't know. That's hard because you have be in the perspective of the other person you could put a lot of people in that person's place and they might all say something different.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Callaway County?
The reason I like it here is because I've reconnected with a lot of people who I've known since my earliest memories.