Ready to retire
Updated: January 4, 2013
CHAMPAIGN -- If you ride MTD, you know Louie Fonseca. After almost 40 years, the driver is retiring.
He started driving in 1973 as a way to help him through school, but now he says it made him who he is today.
"Been a long journey. But an interesting one."
For the past 39 and a half years, this is how Louie Fonseca started each and every morning.
He gets up at 4 am, gets to work and starts checking his bus. A lot of people dream of being movie stars but this is what fonseca dreamed of.
"Ever since growing up in Chicago I really looked up to the buses. I thought it was thrilling to drive those big vehicles," Fonseca said.
In the 70's he moved to Champaign.
"I applied and I was fortunate that they hired me. I've been here ever since."
He's watch MTD evolve over the past couple of decades and as Assitant Director Tom Costillo says fonseca has no doubt played a great role in it's success.
"He really knows the history. He's a keeper. We're gonna miss him," Costillo said.
Over the years what he's enjoyed most is meeting all of you. Thousands that have walked on and off always greeted with a big Fonseca smile each and every time.
"It's very fulfilling that I can lend a hand in people's life. So they can better themselves." Fonseca said.
That to him makes every 4 am wake up call for the past 40 years, worth it completely.
"To them I extend a very grateful thank you." Fonseca said.
But now this 60 year old says it's time for him to move on.
"Sad, exciting. It's gonna take a lot of getting used to."
So what's he looking forward to most?
"Sleeping in. I'm looking forward to that sleeping in. I haven't done that in 39 and a half years."
And so today, he's closing the door on this chapter, driving into the next.
MTD says it's not quite ready to say goodbye to him forever quite yet. the company may ask Fonseca to come back and drive every now & then.
He started driving in 1973 as a way to help him through school, but now he says it made him who he is today.
"Been a long journey. But an interesting one."
For the past 39 and a half years, this is how Louie Fonseca started each and every morning.
He gets up at 4 am, gets to work and starts checking his bus. A lot of people dream of being movie stars but this is what fonseca dreamed of.
"Ever since growing up in Chicago I really looked up to the buses. I thought it was thrilling to drive those big vehicles," Fonseca said.
In the 70's he moved to Champaign.
"I applied and I was fortunate that they hired me. I've been here ever since."
He's watch MTD evolve over the past couple of decades and as Assitant Director Tom Costillo says fonseca has no doubt played a great role in it's success.
"He really knows the history. He's a keeper. We're gonna miss him," Costillo said.
Over the years what he's enjoyed most is meeting all of you. Thousands that have walked on and off always greeted with a big Fonseca smile each and every time.
"It's very fulfilling that I can lend a hand in people's life. So they can better themselves." Fonseca said.
That to him makes every 4 am wake up call for the past 40 years, worth it completely.
"To them I extend a very grateful thank you." Fonseca said.
But now this 60 year old says it's time for him to move on.
"Sad, exciting. It's gonna take a lot of getting used to."
So what's he looking forward to most?
"Sleeping in. I'm looking forward to that sleeping in. I haven't done that in 39 and a half years."
And so today, he's closing the door on this chapter, driving into the next.
MTD says it's not quite ready to say goodbye to him forever quite yet. the company may ask Fonseca to come back and drive every now & then.
