2006年VOA标准英语-Working Man of the Century Retires

By Jim Bertel
Washington, DC
24 March 2006
 
watch 100yearold Retiree report 

Arthur Winston is retiring after working at the same job for more than seven decades. Named "Working Man of the Century" by former President Bill Clinton, Winston decided¹ to call it quits on his 100th birthday. VOA's Jim Bertel reports on this dedicated² employee.

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Author Winston with his late wife  
  

Public transit³ employee Arthur Winston has been cleaning buses in Los Angeles for decades. Before that he cleaned trolleys⁴. During his three-quarters of a century on the job he never called in sick, never was late, never left early. In all those years he has only missed work once, the day his wife died.

According to the U.S. Labor⁵ Department, Winston compiled the best work record in U.S. history.

Arthur Winston was born in Oklahoma and picked cotton as a child. At the age of 17 he moved to Los Angeles and went to work for the Pacific Railroad Company.

Arthur Winston   
  
"I started doing janitorial⁶ work. 41 cents an hour," he recalls.

He dreamed of being a driver or a mechanic. But, while the city was tied together by trolleys, it was divided by race. "1938, '40, all through that I put in for mechanical work," he says. " But in their old contract that this company had then, it says mechanic was only lily white and sober."

 
Employee of the Century
  
So he cleaned, eventually becoming a supervisor⁷.  Congress named him Employee of the Century and the city of Los Angeles named a bus yard after him. After all these years and accolades⁸, what will he miss most?

"I' am going to feel kind of lonesome from missing the people. This has been home away from home" Winston says.

But the 100-year-old retiree does not plan to slow down. He wants to keep busy in his retirement⁹ by doing charity work and taking advantage of his free bus pass to explore Los Angeles.

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

3 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

4 trolleys   

n.（两轮或四轮的）手推车( trolley的名词复数 )；装有脚轮的小台车；电车

参考例句：

• Cars and trolleys filled the street. 小汽车和有轨电车挤满了街道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Garbage from all sources was deposited in bins on trolleys. 来自各方的垃圾是装在手推车上的垃圾箱里的。 来自辞典例句

5 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

6 janitorial   

adj.管理的(janitor的变形)

参考例句：

• Besides attending class, you will help our janitorial staff after school. 除了正常上课以外，下课后你得帮助学校的工人做做义工。 来自电影对白
• The accommodation will be cleaned 2-3 times every week by janitorial staff. 宿舍每星期更换2~3次备品，并有清洁人员清扫宿舍环境。 来自互联网

7 supervisor   

n.监督人，管理人，检查员，督学，主管，导师

参考例句：

• Between you and me I think that new supervisor is a twit.我们私下说，我认为新来的主管人是一个傻瓜。
• He said I was too flighty to be a good supervisor.他说我太轻浮不能成为一名好的管理员。

8 accolades   

n.（连结几行谱表的）连谱号( accolade的名词复数 )；嘉奖；（窗、门上方的）桃尖拱形线脚；册封爵士的仪式（用剑面在肩上轻拍一下）

参考例句：

• Unlike other accolades for literature which tend to value style or experimentation. 有别于其他偏重风格活实验性的文学奖项。 来自互联网
• Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网

9 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。