At Metro Transit, William Blair found not only a fulfilling, stable career, but also the love of his life. 

In the early '90s, William considered working at an auto manufacturer. “But then I remembered all the plant closures in the '80s,” he said. “So, I decided to go work at Metro Transit instead.” 

Little did he know, this decision would lead to meeting his future wife onboard. “She was a passenger, and after a brief exchange, she handed me her number,” William recalled. “After a week, I called her. Two and a half years later, we got married.” 

They spent 25 wonderful years together before her passing, and William is grateful for the time he could take off to care for her. 

During his tenure, William spent twelve years driving buses, but it trains became his 20-year passion. “I’ll always have a fondness for the bus, but I love the trains,” he said. His interest was so strong, he often engaged with mechanics to understand the trains' inner workings to improve his own understanding and skills. He fondly remembers working on game days, when the trains were packed with excited fans. 

“Everyone is in a good mood,” he said. But it was the people—supportive coworkers and talkative passengers—that kept him in the job for so long. “I’ve had so many passengers open up to me. It’s those connections that I’ll always remember,” he reflected. 

And he’s gracious for the time he spent coworkers and supervisors like the late John Humphrey whose leadership and listening he appreciated.

As he signs off, William shared a favorite Bible passage to commemorate his career: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” In retirement, he plans to visit the Kennedy Space Center to see a space launch and reconnect with family.