Ed 'Fast Eddie' Savage Leaving Con Ed After 60 Years
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Ed "Fast Eddie" Savage started working for Con Ed on Oct. 4, 1951 -- the day after Bobby Thomson hit the "Shot Heard 'Round the World."
"My father worked there for 48 years so my mother told him to get me a job," Savage told 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg.
In his 60 years, Savage has been a messenger, a splicer -- the position that gave him his nickname, underground supervisor and for the past 39 years he's worked as the Shift Manager in the Manhattan Control Room.
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"I'm the palace guard of Manhattan," Savage said.
The 78-year-old has seen it all -- from transformer fires, manhole explosions, blackouts to blizzards.
He sat in his chair at the helm of Con Ed's Emergency Operations Center during Hurricane Irene but in all his years he claims nothing compares to the Washington Heights blackout.
"I could see it escalating," Savage said.
It was Fourth of July weekend and the city was in the middle of a grueling heat wave. Savage was just trying to keep the system together when the situation snowballed.
"A manhole fire, overheated transformer, you lose a high-tension feeder," he says.
WATCH: Savage Reflects On His Career
He's also dealt with the ire of angry customers.
"It's a stressful job even to this day," Savage said.
After six decades, Savage is calling it quits.
"I enjoy action, otherwise I wouldn't have stayed here," he said."You have to like what you do. No matter how hard or challenging it was it was always satisfying."
"He'll be missed," said John Miksad, senior vice president of Electric Operations. "Ed is one of a kind. Throughout his 60 years with Con Edison, he's approached his job with as much dedication and energy as anyone I know. I think Ed's 'secret' is that he loves his job, he loves this company, and he loves the people he works with. We all wish Ed a long, healthy and happy -- and well deserved - retirement."
Savage comes from a long line of Con Ed men: his father served the company for 48 years, his brother for 35 and his son has been working there for 30 years.
Savage's last day will be Friday.
Now, he's ready for his next adventure: Harrah's Casino in Atlantic City.
