The year was 1942, James Cagney had won the Oscar for Best Actor in the film, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and teenager Al Blackman began his career with American Airlines working at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York.

Blackman has worked for American for 68 years now; a front line participant in the technological evolution of aviation. As an Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Blackman worked on turbo prop aircraft, to the earliest versions of commercial jet engines. On July 16, AA management and TWU Local 562 members celebrated this milestone with a party for Brother Blackman at JFK International Airport. He has been number one on the AMT seniority roster longer than most AMT's have been alive. Blackman obviously has been blessed with good health and a great attitude. Congratulations for such a remarkable achievement.