It's the end of a 45-year journey for Unifor Local 444's Gord Gray.
Gray, 65, has been the communication's gatekeeper for the union as its public relations representative for more than a decade.
Grey tells AM800 News he landed a job at Chrysler's Windsor Assembly Plant way back in 1974 — receiving quite a pay raise from 92-cents per hour job cutting meat at an east-Windsor grocery store to $4.51 on the line.
He got involved in the union at the shop level before Ken Lewenza Sr. brought him to the local's office to handle PR and edit The Guardian Local 444 News.
Relaying information to workers in the middle of economic crisis and prosperity over the years has taught Gray one thing about the community.
"Windsor is resilient, they know how to get their feet back on the road and I think it made us a better us for Windsor and Essex County," he says.
Grey tells AM800 News he performed his duties using two simple rules that he sees in others every day.
"Be humble and be kind and that's what Windsor and Essex County is. There's something about Windsor and Essex County I love, I will always love and I'll always cherish," says Gray. "It's just been a good road travelled and I was fortunate, I was very fortunate."
Promoting community outreach for Local 444 and in partnership with other unions in the area is what he's most proud of.
"From Amherstburg to Chatham and in Windsor, it's astounding. Far too often they don't get enough recognition. I know we're a big local and we're always in the news, but those smaller groups do some amazing work in their communities," he added.
Jeremy Glajch will be transitioning into Gray's role in the coming weeks.
After listening to a packed union hall talk about Grey, the 44-year-old knows he's going to have some first day jitters.
"Maybe even more so today ... When I was going through all the wonderful things that Gord's done for them, just listing off everything that he does in this job," he says.
Glajch is no slouch himself, having 21-years of experience with Local 444, but he still expects there to be a learning curve.
"The more and more I get to know the roll, the bigger I see it. This is going to be a huge job, Gord did it very well and I'm going to try my hardest to fill those shoes the best I can."
More than 100 union members, media contacts and friends attended a retirement party for Gray at Unifor Local 444's union hall on Turner Rd. Friday.