Rick Mackie Retiring From Mercury Racing

After almost 31 years with Mercury Racing in Fond du Lac, Wis., marketing specialist Rick Mackie is retiring from the high-performance marine engine and accessories company. A familiar face at poker runs, races and boat shows around the country, Mackie worked under former Mercury Racing president Fred Kiekhaefer, former general manager Erik Christiansen and current general manager Stuart Halley.

Mercury Racing made the official announcement of Mackie’s departure this morning.

“After almost 31 years at Mercury Racing I view Rick as an icon in the go-fast boating industry,” said Halley. “He is a great guy possessing an infectious smile with extensive customer and product knowledge. I enjoyed working with him during our recent 450R launch and will miss not having him here for our future product launches.

“I will especially miss the articles he writes in the Mercury Racing blog because of his personal touch,” he continued. “I wish him well in his well-deserved retirement and hope to see him at future poker run.”

Mackie, who is 57 years old and celebrated his 30th anniversary with the company last year, officially will exit the company later this month. Growing up in Sault St. Marie, Mich., and logging countless hours on Waiska Bay, he dreamed of one day working for Mercury Marine.

“It was my destiny to be here,” he said. “I grew up on the lake and my brother and I were always running Mercury-powered boats. I’ve been messing around with Mercury stuff since I was a little kid.

“I think what I will miss most about working here are all the relationships I formed with people like Bill Seebold and Reggie Fountain, Jr., and friends I made over the years,” he added. “I always tried to treat people the way I wanted to be treated.”

Said Kiekhaefer, who worked with Mackie for more than 20 years, “Rick is disarmingly lighthearted in spirit; but very serious in his dedication to profession and Mercury. I’m so fortunate to have Rick as a friend.”

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