Age is just a number for four retired men enrolling in Welding classes at South Georgia Technical College
Cordele, GA – Age is just a number for four retired men who have chosen to return to the classroom at South Georgia Technical College, proving that it is never too late to learn a new skill. Each of the men, all over the age of 67, recently enrolled in welding courses at SGTC to challenge themselves, stay active, and explore new opportunities in retirement.
The group includes former professionals from a variety of fields, including Agriculture, Emergency Management, Magistrate Judge, Engineer and more. Though their careers spanned different industries, they share a common drive: the desire to keep learning and doing something meaningful after retirement.
The four retirees include: Frank Morgan, age 73; Marion Hall, age 84; Kenny Calhoun, age 67, and Al Willis, 71. All four live in Dooly County and drive over to the SGTC Crisp County Center two nights a week to be a part of SGTC Instructor Thomas Mayo’s welding classes.
“We may be retired, but that doesn’t mean we’ve stopped living,” said one of the students. “Welding is something I’ve always wanted to learn more about, and South Georgia Tech gives us the perfect place to do that and they have state of the art equipment to practice with.”
South Georgia Technical College welding instructor Thomas Mayo said the men have been a welcome addition to the program. “They bring life experience, discipline, and humor to the classroom. It’s inspiring to see them take on the challenge of learning something new, and they’re doing a great job.”
For the retirees, the classes provide more than just technical training. They say the program offers camaraderie, purpose, fun, and a sense of accomplishment. “It feels good to be in a classroom, because you really want to learn. It’s not like when we were younger and had to go school. We are coming because we want to and learning alongside younger students is a lot of fun,” said Kenny Calhoun, who has only been retired for eight months. “We’re proving that education really can be lifelong.”
Al Willis is the one who helped inspire the other three to sign up for the classes. Willis and SGTC Heating and Air Conditioning Instructor Mike Enfinger are good friends. The retired Dooly County Magistrate Judge had even taken classes from Enfinger earlier. “Mike Enfinger and I would go out to eat several times a month, and one day, he brought this new welding instructor along. That was Mr. Thomas Mayo. I told him I would like to improve my welding skills and he said, ‘you ought to come back and take my night classes. If you are over 62, there is no charge for tuition.’”
Willis, Morgan, Hall, and Calhoun get together regularly for morning coffee and Willis told them he was thinking about going back to college and studying welding. The other three decided they would like to join him, so they did.
All four gentlemen had a little background in welding because of some farming and maintenance experience, but were not satisfied with their skills. So, they enrolled in the SGTC Crisp County night welding classes with Instructor Mayo Fall Semester.
“Tom Mayo is a very good instructor and he is patient. He turns us loose and lets us progress at our own pace while also guiding us when we need help,” said Marion Hall, a retired Test Engineer for Lockheed Martin. Mayo was working on a prototype of an invention and wanted to sharpen his welding skills. “I’ve welded for years but was not satisfied with my skills so this is perfect.”
Morgan, Calhoun, Hall and Willis are all friends with a local welding shop owner who joked that when they graduated he would be glad to give them a part-time job. Hall quickly responded with a smile and a laugh, “we told him we were going to put him out of business, but I don’t think he is very worried.”
The four might be known as “the geriatric squad” but they are still enjoying learning and being around the younger students. “We might not have the same drive or reasons for sharpening our skills but the younger students are respectful and nice. They speak to us and are willing to help us when we need something or have a question,” explained Willis.
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford praised the men’s commitment. “Their example demonstrates that education is for everyone, regardless of age. We are proud to have them in our welding program and hope their story encourages others to pursue lifelong learning. And it is proof that it is not too late to sign up for classes!”
The four men agree that while retirement is often seen as a time to slow down, they view it as an opportunity to try something new. Whether they plan to use their welding skills for personal projects, community work, or simply for the joy of learning, their return to school highlights the value of staying engaged and active at any stage of life.
For more information about the SGTC Crisp County Center welding program, contact Instructor Thomas Mayo at tom.mayo@southgatech.edu or 229-271-4054. SGTC will be hosting a c-term eight-week mini-semester beginning Tuesday, October 14th and it is not too late to sign up.
SGTC offers over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit educational program. Individuals can sign up on-line at www.southgatech.edu by selecting the Apply Now button at the top right-hand side of the home-page. For more information reach out to SGTC Admissions Director Candie Walters at cwalters@southgatech.edu or 229-931-2299 in Americus or Admissions Coordinator Macy Williams in Cordele at macy.williams@southgatech.edu or 229-271-4051.
