1:14Cyclists and walkers who use the Stone Arch Bridge for their morning commutes might have noticed something missing Tuesday: the cheery greeting of security guard Roger Brown.
For 162 days in a row, weekends included, Brown served as Interstate 35W bridge construction security at the corner of SE. 6th Av. and the service drive used by construction vehicles near the east end of the Stone Arch Bridge.
But the 45-year-old Local 563 union member wasn't interested just in diligently guarding the street. He called out a "hello" to just about every passerby -- by name -- for more than four months.
Brown was reassigned to 60th St. and Pleasant Av. S. He said Wednesday morning that he already misses the "regulars" he got to know, and wishes he could have said goodbye to all of them.
During the spring and summer, friends grew accustomed to one of his favorite phrases: "I love my job." It's what Brown was always saying, so his co-workers had a new, especially bright vest made for him with the phrase stitched beneath his name.
Brown's charisma on the corner spread to the legion of walkers and cyclists. He punctuated the morning by waving and calling, "Good morning! Have a great day!"
In return, cyclists offered quick waves, and many walkers returned the greeting. Brown turned the daily grind into a personal challenge to make passersby feel welcome. He took special care to remember the names of anyone who learned his.
He kept a list of names to learn with short descriptions in his guard booth. "Cindy the happy lady" read one, and another: "Joe + Sarah, tall dude + red hair."
