Happy Retirement Mr. Major Highway Line Painter

It is going to be hard not to have Al Willms part of our crew, when he officially retires after 15 years on August 15th, after  working with me on striping crew and many of the winters in maintenance. He actually started on striping crew before I came on full time by a year- (in photo below) I had several suggested songs to use for him, but I don't think he would have liked "take this job and shove it", or Oney by Johnny Cash- so here are two short  retirement songs and a few of the photos over the years.(I actually could not fit them all in song) I certainly wish you the best in your retirement- and thanks again for all  you have done for the crew and for our region in your work over the years- you are a Real men of Genius.

above photo was taken in 2002 and below photo was taken July of 2017 near Winthrop

above photo was taken in Maui a few years ago when we met up with him and his wife

We always had fun on the job- Going to Miss Al!

Retirement is a big decision- I am undecided on my plans. There are many who "I sure hope they do not retire for a long time." My brother sent me this clipping of a man who has been working for 75 years with American Airlines- wow! Hats off to his employer as well- many do not know how to keep someone that long or want to.  His wife's advice is pretty amazing too.

Age is just a number – from Al Blackman

In the July issue of American Way, Azriel "Al" Blackman, a JFK-based crew chief, reflects on his 75 years of service as an aviation maintenance technician at American. Read the full letter below and be sure to check out the video of Al's special anniversary celebration.

I could start this column by telling you how much I love my job working in Aircraft Maintenance. I could tell you that it's never really felt like a job because it's a craft I love and take great pride in every day. I could share that I've worked on more than 50 different aircraft types during my career or that I served with the U.S. Army in Korea at a facility located across from the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Yes, M.A.S.H. Yes, that M.A.S.H. But instead, I'll start with the reason I was asked to share my story. This year marks my 75th as an aviation maintenance technician at American Airlines. That's right -- 75 years. I started just before I turned 17; I'm now 92. That has landed me in the book of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS for having the "Longest Career as an Airline Mechanic." But don't think for a second that this is a retirement letter. See, American keeps buying new planes - in fact, we have the youngest fleet among major U.S. carriers. Many of these new planes are from Boeing, which happen to be my favorite to work on. And while I may not be as hands on as I used to be, I still do some sheet metal work from time to time. My primary role, however, is coordinating our team members so they're safe and successful at getting our planes back in service. You might find this hard to believe, but I still see every day as a new challenge. I always have. My late wife, Dolores, knew it too. She used to tell me, "Go to work; go play with your friends." We were married 57 years before she passed away about seven years ago. But I still hear those words, because they're true. My colleagues are my friends. And they are the finest group of aviation mechanics in the world. When I'm not working to maintain our fleet, you can find me restoring vintage aircraft for the Historical Aircraft Restoration Project at Floyd Bennett Field, a few miles west of my work home -- John F. Kennedy International Airport. I guess that makes me an antique fixing an antique. It's possible I know some of our aircraft as well as you know your kids, but I consider that a good quality in a mechanic. And while I will eventually leave our fleet in the capable hands of my colleagues, American's maintenance hangar at JFK will always be home. My fellow mechanics -- my friends -- have made sure of that.

Azriel "Al" Blackman