L.A. Transit Authority honors 91-year-old worker who hasn't missed a day in 62 years

Jet, April 21, 1997

A 91-year-old Los Angeles man who still puts in a 40-hour work week and has never missed a day was recently honored for his service to the L.A. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

The celebration included the naming of a transit facility for Arthur Winston, who worked 62 consecutive years without ever taking a day off. He has been employed by the MTA for a total of 65 years.

Of his longevity, Winston said, "I think you are as old as you think you are. Work has never bothered me. I take it as a pleasure."

Roland Wirt, who works with Winston at the MTA and organizes his appearances, told JET: "He still starts his day at 6 a.m. and works through 2 p.m. He's done that for more than 60 years. He's never been late or sick. And from 1975-80 he worked two shifts, putting in 80 hours every week."

As a special birthday gift to Winston, the MTA named one of its maintenance facilities for him. That is the facility where he still works as a lead man, which means he hands out work assignments and manages the facility. He was named the authority's Employee of the Century.

When Winston joined the transit system in Los Angeles, it was mostly made up of electric rail cars. He has worked on streetcars and rails and saw the system go through numerous changes and several name changes.

Born in Okemoh, OK, he moved to Los Angeles in 1923. Wirt pointed out that Winston's father lived to be 98 and had a similar work record and philosophy. Winston resides in South Central Los Angeles with his great-granddaughter. When his wife of 65 years, Frances, passed away in 1988, he used one of his floater days to attend her services, but he still showed up for work.

He hopes to one day fulfill his dream of meeting talk show host Oprah Winfrey.