The longest serving Public Servant in Louisiana, and possibly in the whole of the United States, has retired after 67 years.
When Roland Babin joined the Louisiana Highway Department in 1955 on a road construction crew, Bill Haley and His Comets were rocking around the clock and America liked Ike.
“I started as a rodman (setting up equipment) for $180 ($A255) per month,” Mr Babin (pictured) said.
“I’ve loved every minute of it.”
The longest-serving Public Servant in Louisiana history, Mr Babin has spent 67 years and almost 25,000 days on the job.
He could have retired on full pay 37 years ago, but he wouldn’t even knock off early on his last day on the job.
Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Shawn Wilson said he told Mr Babin he could leave early on his last day.
“He looked at his watch and said, ‘I have nearly two hours to go; I get off at 4:30pm’,” Mr Wilson said.
“Roland is the living legend,” he said.
“When you look up the definition of an extraordinary Public Servant, you’d find a picture of him.”
Mr Babin (85) may have also set a world record with his service.
The Guinness Book of World Records lists former Hampton, Virginia, city employee, Hardy William Cash as the longest working Public Servant with 63 years, 210 days on the job before retiring in 2012.
“It’s really mind-boggling, even to me, to have lasted this long,” said Mr Babin, who has four children, 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
“I would have liked to continue, but my body won’t tolerate the heat on the road like it once did.”
He has retired as a maintenance specialist, still on the road with crews spreading smooth, fresh layers of asphalt overlays, occasionally grabbing a broom or rake to work beside the younger men and women.
“I loved my years on maintenance with the hot mix because you get to see what you’ve accomplished after a good day’s work; I love my crew,” Mr Babin said.
“Now my 60-year-old brain is telling my 85-year-old body it’s time to go,” he said.
“To be honest, I can’t believe it went by so fast.”
Lafayette, 16 August 2022
