Ardent Mills employee retires after nearly 47 years Alton floods just part of 47-year career Dylan Suttles, [email protected] FacebookTwitterEmail 1of3 David Looper, right, is captured transporting a co-worker to the other side of the the Ardent Mills flour mill in Alton in 2019. Looper. who worked through floods in 1993 and 2019, is retiring from the mill this month after 47 years. Show MoreShow Less 2of3 3of3 ALTON — After nearly 47 years, Alton resident David Looper will be retiring from the Ardent Mills flour mill on Friday, Feb. 19. Looper, a lubricant technician, started working at the mill because of his father who also worked at the mill for 35 years. According to Looper, his favorite part of the job was being able to make a living “close to home.” The worst part, he said, was the summer heat.