Posted on 07/24/2013 10:06:38 AM PDT by Errant
When Newton Murray — everyone calls him Mr. Newton — moved from his native Trinidad to Tampa, Florida, he went to Harry H. Bell & Sons cold storage facility and applied for a job as a janitor. He got the job, and began sweeping and cleaning 90,000 square feet of enclosed warehouse space, plus parking lots and loading docks, for minimum wage. That was 33 years ago. Since then, the now 99-year-old man has never arrived for work late, never left work early, never said no, and never asked for – or received – a raise.
In 2000, the two-block-long complex where he 99 Year Old Man Works For Minimum Wage...For Over 30 Years worked, and works, was sold, to Bama Sea Products. As this piece in the Tampa Bay Times details, the new owners were in the process of moving in when this old man showed up for work. The general manager said the building had been sold, and it was no longer Harry Bell’s.
“No matter, Cap’n,” John Jackson remembers him saying. “I come with the property.” Obviously Jackson let him stay. “What was I going to do?” The next day, Mr. Newton came back, bringing his own broom this time, and he has been coming back ever since, though he has cut his work week back to just three days.
What long days those are though. From the time his alarm clock goes off, at 3:30 a.m., it typically takes him 30 minutes to make his way to the kitchen to make tea. After dressing and packing some fried chicken for lunch, it’s a 20-minute, two-block walk to the bus stop. Finally, some four hours after waking up, he arrives at work.
(Excerpt) Read more at zerohedge.com ...
His boss is a jerk.
This man has more work ethic in his little finger then obama’s entire family has.
In 33 years you have never gained any new skills or sought to get a better paying job? He sounds like an exemplary employee and I am certain he could have gotten hired at another company for a better wage, but apparently didn’t try.
this worker is a good man though...we used to have millions of these kind....working steady, never late, never taking days off..
look at these people "retiring" at age 40 or so...."retiring"....our collective work ethic has become so pathetic its obscene...
clearly Mr. Newton Murry has been blessed by God.
but, i keep hearing that Americans won’t do this kind of work. i’ll have to cite his example the next time i hear that. i wish he’d quit and run for president though.
Recall the 100-year old man who worked decades for the Los Angeles metro transit dept., since the days they had trolleys. He missed 1/2 day of work the entire time...to attend his wife's funeral. He retired and was dead within months.
Keep going, man!
I'm sure he just wanted some work to get by...he was going to recreate the light bulb.....just the same, a decent and moral employer would have at least given COLA increases...
Guy's been contributing positively to society for at least 73 years.
God bless Newton Murray.
I worked with an old black man when I first got married at the ripe old age of 19. We both made minimum wage (about $2.35 hour at that time). He was in his sixties and had put two daughters through college. This was way back before all of the programs they have today. I still remember his name today. He was one of the nicest, most honest, and hard working guys in that entire farm equipment dealership. I and everyone else always used mister, when addressing him.
I respect Newton Murray and salute him for his work.
I do not respect the Obamadork and give him the one finger salute for his lack of work. Same for his dorky wife.
According to the article, he retired and could’ve lived off his modest pension after working for Texaco in Trinidad for 40 years. Instead, when he arrived in Florida, he decided to take yet another job (this job).
This man simply enjoys being productive. At 99 years old. :-0 Hats off to him.
Well you used to be able to work for yourself. Right now I only work 60% for myself and 40% for my superiors in the various levels of government.
That could have something to do with the lack of work ethic.
Slacker.
Really? Based on the article, it takes him 20 minutes to go two blocks, so I doubt he's a super efficient janitor. Additionally, it doesn't seem like he is really needed, but rather the boss kept him on out of a sense of obligation.
If he was really after more than minimum wage, he could have probably done better any week of those last 99 years. Some people are just looking for a room and somewhere to spend their day. I'd say he found a quiet place to retire.
And your hilarious comment following that made Me burst out into laughter! Well done!
last 33 years, no 99
Completely agree.
Contrast this story with that of the German billionaire a few years ago, who stopped his Mercedes on a railroad crossing, in front of an oncoming train.
A person is only really rich when they are happy and their soul secure.
You don't know the half of it.....that storage "facility" was notorious as a seafood repacking/remarking/relabeling station during my years in the frozen fish business.
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