‘Red’ Medina retires after 34 years of City service.
City legend Adolfo “Red” Medina, Construction Inspector, Public Works/Contract Administration, retired in March after 34 years of distinguished service. Red was a Club Member for 33 of his 34 years with the City. (His wife, Lupe Medina, was a longtime Club staffer and likely the first face you saw when you visited Club headquarters. She retired from the Club several years ago.)
The Club adds its heartfelt congratulations to Red for his many years of dedicated and excellent service to the City. Well done!
Remembrance by Kristen and Kerry Medina
Red’s daughters, Kristen Sabad and Kerry Franco,
wrote this loving piece upon Red’s retirement:
Red Medina is one amazing man with an unwavering work ethic. He started working as a very young boy and never let up. After graduating from Salesian High School in 1967, his dad encouraged him to sign up with the Carpenters Local 1976. He completed an apprenticeship, which included classes at Trade Tech, and was excited to learn a new trade. Red quickly became a carpenter in high demand, because of his many talents. Having such a skilled carpenter in the family to build, repair, and renovate many homes, including his own, has been a gift.
He stayed with the Local Union for 17 years and in the late 1980s he went on to start as an exempt carpenter with General Services. After working as a civil service carpenter, he moved on to Public Works/Contract Administration as a Construction Inspector. And now after 34 years with the City, Red Medina is finally retiring.
For years he downplayed the mere thought of “retirement.” He truly enjoyed his line of work and is proud of his contributions. He’d often say, “Why retire? I like my job, I meet up with friends and coworkers every day and over the years I have run into many of my long-lost relatives at different job sites.”
He always pinched himself to think how lucky he was to be an inspector for the City of Los Angeles, often commenting on how easy the work was compared to the work of a union carpenter. Now I know this is going to be hard to believe but Red just loves working and he’s still not sure he wants to retire. However, his wife has guaranteed us all that his last day on the job was March 27, 2020!
Congratulations Red! Now the real work begins.
