HARDIN COUNTY| Longtime Sonic employee retires after 46 years

Customers at the Sonic Drive-In in Silsbee will not hear the sweet voice of longtime employee Brenda Rhone any longer over the microphone.

After 46 years, Rhone, 65, retired from Sonic on Jan. 31, a place she had worked since 1976. 

Rhone started working at the first Sonic location on U.S. Business 96, which today is home to The Donut Palace.

Manager Brooke Michelle Coates said Rhone is a familiar face for the customers.

“I have posted several posts on Facebook about Brenda retiring and they just blew up,” Coates said. “Everyone loves Mrs. Brenda.”

Coates noted that dependability and loyalty are Rhones great assets.

“She just has a sweet voice and she’s very caring,” she added. “That’s what I've heard from our customers when she takes their order. She cares about the business and about the customers.”

Coates said Rhone took orders and prepared the bags for customers.

“She also handled a lot of our billing and stuff,” Coates said. “She worked 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday with her weekends off.”

According to Coates, Rhone said she’s going to take two months off then start work again at a small business her daughter owns.