International   

A centenarian retires

LOS ANGELES: After more than three-quarters of a century working for public transit agencies, a bus maintenance worker retired on Wednesday on his 100th birthday.

For decades, Arthur Winston reported to work at a bus yard at the crack of dawn. By 6 a.m. he would be supervising a crew of workers as they cleaned and refuelled the region's bus fleet.

But on Tuesday, Winston abandoned his routine and put on a suit, tie and black fedora and headed downtown to meet the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. There, he was lauded for his nearly perfect work record and decades of service with what is currently called the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

"I'm kind of nervous about leaving the job, I've been doing it for so long," he said. "I'm going to miss my crew. But I'll find plenty of things to do with my free time."

Mr. Winston has missed only one day of work in his entire career, transit officials say. That was in 1988, when his wife of 65 years died. "He has an impeccable safety record, he never calls in sick, he's always on time, he's Mr. Reliable," said his manager of seven years.

A co-worker said Mr. Winston began each workday by bending over to touch his toes to demonstrate that he was fit.

Mr. Winston was born in Oklahoma and began picking cotton when he was 10. When droughts and storms ruined several crop seasons, his family headed west and in 1924 he joined the Pacific Electric Railway Co.

Mr. Winston said he could have retired when he was in his 70s, but he wanted to continue working to support family members who were struggling financially or pursuing college degrees.

He plans to keep busy by doing charity work and taking advantage of his free bus pass. "I'll be on the move. I'm not going to sit and mope in the house," he said.

AP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Bid to break Iran deadlock
A centenarian retires
ETA announces ceasefire
Russia, China for tie-up with India
Stockholm Water Prize for India-born Canadian

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu