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Employee Stories: What a way to end a 40 year career!

jcoulehan
Explorer C

It took Captain Richard Krug over 40 years of flying, until the last leg of his aviation career, to receive something most commercials pilots never get—a cash tip! Captain Krug started his aviation career in 1972 as an air force pilot, flying combat missions in Vietnam on C141s. After his military career, he flew for Braniff for five years before coming to Southwest in 1983. The retiring airman’s last flight took place from Houston to Phoenix on September 25.  With a large entourage of family and friends, including some of his high school classmates coming all the way from New York, much fanfare surrounded the Captain. Funny announcements were made over the speaker to introduce Captain Krug as Southwest’s oldest current pilot, [64 years, 364 days old]. Captain Krug came out of the cockpit, acknowledged the applause, and introduced his wife, Carol, and the rest of his group. capt. Krug On board that day was U.S. Treasurer Rosa Gumataotao Rios, whose signature has been engraved on U.S. currency since 2009.  Rios autographed a dollar bill right above her printed signature and presented it to Captain Krug with a note of good luck. Overwhelmed by her gesture, Captain Krug assured her that he would never spend it! capt. Krug 3 - Copy Upon departure from Houston, firefighters from the Houston Fire Department doused his Boeing 700 series aircraft with high pressure streams of water. The Phoenix Fire Department showed Captain Krug and his passengers the same honor when the flight arrived in Phoenix. When the plane landed in Phoenix, Captain Krug taxied the shiniest airplane in the fleet to the gate that day. Captain Krug received his final surprise when he entered the terminal for his last airport appearance as a Southwest Employee: a large flash dance. Two dozen friends and Employees performed a choreographed hip-hop dance in the gate area, which provided entertainment for other Southwest passengers awaiting flights. Thank you, Captain Krug, for your years of service at Southwest!
1 Comment
bibadog
Explorer C

Bruce Delmonico here.  I've been thinking of you lately and just decided to do a google search ... and here you are.  Congratulations on being honored and loved by Southwest and I'm sure by anyone who knows you.  We had a lot of good times.  Still married to Mary after 41 years.  We bought a house in Surfside Beach, South Carolina.  I hope you are healthy and happy.