EARLIER THIS WEEK, THERE WAS A BIG CELEBRATION TO HONOR PITTSBURGH’S BIG THREE SIDNEY CROSBY, EVGENI MALKIN AND KRIS LETANG. THEY ARE MAINSTAYS HERE AT PPG PAINTS ARENA. BUT THERE’S ANOTHER NAME THAT IS A MAINSTAY HERE AT THE ARENA THAT IS CELEBRATING A MAJOR MILESTONE THIS WEEKEND. NO, I’M JUST GLAD TO GO TO WORK. THAT SMILE AND BLUE VEST HAVE BEEN A PART OF DAVE BLACKBURN’S DAILY UNIFORM FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS. MET A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE TO. I DON’T HAVE NO CONFLICT, SO MAYBE THAT’S WHY HE STILL WORKING AT NEARLY 90 YEARS OLD. THE LONGTIME USHER, WHO TURNS 90 ON SATURDAY, STILL WORKS EACH WEEK AT PPG PAINTS. THAT MAKES HIM THE ONLY LIVING PERSON THAT STARTED WHEN THE CIVIC ARENA OPENED BACK IN 1961. LOOKING FOR A JOB AND I DON’T KNOW WHO PUT ME TO THE CIVIC ARENA, BUT I WENT THERE AND THEY HIRED ME. AND WHILE MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THOSE 60 PLUS YEARS, LIKE THE ARENA ITSELF, SOMETHING KEEPS BRINGING HIM BACK. HE’LL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU IT’S A COOL JOB. HE’S SEEN ICONS SIDNEY CROSBY, MARIO LEMIEUX, EVEN MICHAEL JACKSON IN CONCERT. BUT THE BIG NAMES AREN’T WHAT BRINGS HIM BACK EACH DAY. HE ENJOYS THE PEOPLE. AND WE ARE. MY BROTHER AND I ARE JUST SO HONORED AS TO HOW PPG HAS EMBRACED HIM. AND HAVE ALLOWED HIM TO CONTINUE TO WORK. AND WHILE HE’S HAD SOME HEALTH CHALLENGES IN RECENT YEARS, HIS BOSSES AT THE RINK EMBRACE HIS LOVE FOR THE JOB. HE CAN’T DRIVE, SO HIS KIDS DROP HIM OFF AND PICK HIM UP. AND A COWORKER WHEELS HIM TO A SECTION BEFORE THE FANS ARRIVE. AND WHILE THE EXACT PLANS FOR HIS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION ARE BEING KEPT A SECRET, HIS PLANS FOR RETIREMENT ARE CRYSTAL CLEAR. NEVER AS I’LL RETIRE WHEN THE MAN UPSTAIRS CALLS ME HOME. THAT’S IT. AND I’M GOING TO KEEP ON GOING. COVERING ALLEG
‘Just glad to go to work’: Pittsburgh man celebrates 64 years on the job, 90th birthday
Dave Blackburn was a longtime usher at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena and saw many iconic performances
Dave Blackburn, a longtime usher at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena, is celebrating his 90th birthday and 64 years of service in Pittsburgh. He has become a beloved fixture among fans and staff.”I’m just glad to go to work,” Blackburn said.His signature smile and blue vest have been part of his daily uniform for more than six decades.Blackburn, who turns 90 on Saturday, continues to work each week at PPG Paints Arena, making him the only living person who started when the city’s Civic Arena opened in 1961.”I was looking for a job. I don’t know who pointed me to the Civic Arena, but I went there and they hired me,” Blackburn said.Despite the many changes over the years, including the arena itself being demolished, one thing has remained constant: Blackburn’s love for the job. He will be the first to tell you it’s an awesome gig. Blackburn has been witness to many iconic performances, from hockey stars like Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux to music legends like Michael Jackson. But it is not the big names that keep him coming back. “He enjoys the people, and my brother and I are just so honored as to how PPG has embraced him and have allowed him to continue to work,” said Blackburn’s daughter, Holly Williams. Blackburn has faced some health challenges in recent years, but his love and commitment to his job have been embraced by his bosses at the rink. Since Blackburn is unable to drive, his children drop him off before and pick him up after each shift. His daughter says a coworker brings a wheelchair to the entrance and wheels him to his section before the fans arrive.While the plans for his birthday celebration are being kept under wraps for now, Blackburn says his plans for retirement are crystal clear.”Never. I will retire when the man upstairs calls me home, and that’s it. Until then, I’m going to keep on going,” said Blackburn.”Just to be able to celebrate a milestone like this and give him his flowers while he’s living, and he can see the impact that he’s made on people’s lives, our lives, and who he is as a person. We are so appreciative,” said Williams.
Dave Blackburn, a longtime usher at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena, is celebrating his 90th birthday and 64 years of service in Pittsburgh. He has become a beloved fixture among fans and staff.
“I’m just glad to go to work,” Blackburn said.
His signature smile and blue vest have been part of his daily uniform for more than six decades.
Blackburn, who turns 90 on Saturday, continues to work each week at PPG Paints Arena, making him the only living person who started when the city’s Civic Arena opened in 1961.
“I was looking for a job. I don’t know who pointed me to the Civic Arena, but I went there and they hired me,” Blackburn said.
Despite the many changes over the years, including the arena itself being demolished, one thing has remained constant: Blackburn’s love for the job.
He will be the first to tell you it’s an awesome gig. Blackburn has been witness to many iconic performances, from hockey stars like Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux to music legends like Michael Jackson. But it is not the big names that keep him coming back.
“He enjoys the people, and my brother and I are just so honored as to how PPG has embraced him and have allowed him to continue to work,” said Blackburn’s daughter, Holly Williams.
Blackburn has faced some health challenges in recent years, but his love and commitment to his job have been embraced by his bosses at the rink.
Since Blackburn is unable to drive, his children drop him off before and pick him up after each shift. His daughter says a coworker brings a wheelchair to the entrance and wheels him to his section before the fans arrive.
While the plans for his birthday celebration are being kept under wraps for now, Blackburn says his plans for retirement are crystal clear.
“Never. I will retire when the man upstairs calls me home, and that’s it. Until then, I’m going to keep on going,” said Blackburn.
“Just to be able to celebrate a milestone like this and give him his flowers while he’s living, and he can see the impact that he’s made on people’s lives, our lives, and who he is as a person. We are so appreciative,” said Williams.
