MTA Legend Arthur Winston, 100, Dies After Brief Retirement

[undergroundrailroad]

MTA Legend Arthur Winston, 100, Dies After Brief Retirement

By Kurt Streeter, Times Staff Writer
1:40 PM PDT, April 14, 2006

Arthur Winston, who set a remarkable personal record by missing only a single day in 72 years of work, died of congestive heart failure Thursday as he slept in his South Los Angeles home. He was 100.

Many of his colleagues and friends honored him by calling him Mr. Winston. He cleaned Los Angeles buses and trains for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The only shift he missed was the day in 1988 that his wife died.

Otherwise, said his bosses at the MTA, they had never known him to arrive for work late or to leave work early. He didn't retire until March 23 one day after he turned 100

Why then?

"Oh," he said with a shrug, "100 years seemed like enough."

Mr. Winston's great-granddaughter, Brandii Wright, 29, said today that working until he had lived to be 100 was a long sought milestone. "He accomplished his goal," she said. "After reaching that he felt like he did what he had to do in life. It was okay to move on. I'm just really proud of him."

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Thank you for this bit of Americana, UGRR

!!

[msgadget]

2. Damn, he was spry

What a goal, and he achieved it.

[politicasista]

3. Just saw his pic and story in this JET magazine may he R.I.P. n/t

[Brewman_Jax]

4. Incredible

I'm glad to see someone being honored for doing right and doing well.

On the other hand, I'm not gonna retire. :P