At Age 67, Some People Retire…Others Start their Second Career
Tom’s inspiring story begins with him being a World War II veteran. On January 21, 1945, Tom was aboard the USS Ticonderoga when the aircraft carrier was hit by two Japanese kamikaze pilots.
Following the war, Tom took a job with American Airlines, where he worked for 40 years and eventually retired as an operations manager.
After retiring, Tom realized that puttering about the house and watching TV was just not for him.
“I’m not going to sit around and watch TV and waste away,” says Tom. “I need to have something to do.”
Today, Tom is one of the most popular associates at The Home Depot Store #0540 in Fort Worth, Texas, where he’s worked since the store opened in 1993. In fact, customers ask for him by name.
“I’ll ask a customer how I can help and their response is ‘Where’s Tom?’” says Ben Gayton, store manager at the Fort Worth store in North Richland Hills.
This year marks Tom’s 20th anniversary with the company, and fortunately for his loyal customers, he shows no sign of retiring.
“I enjoy having somewhere to be, something to do and someone to help every day,” says Tom. “I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
