messenger, delivering mail throughout the city of Hamilton. Today, some forty two years later, one can still find him in the mail room -- but as head of the department. His love of the company and his job are what has kept him there, he says. "I started at American International January 23, 1956,'' the long serving employee said. "I find it to be a very nice company and that's why I've been here for 42 years. I enjoy it. I come in, and do what I have to do.

It can be a bit challenging as there is sometimes quite a lot of pressure just before holidays when everything has to be sent out on time.'' During the time he has spent working for the company, Mr. Carter has seen it go through several changes. "When I first started working at American International, it was on Pitts Bay Road, where the ACE building is now and also included the restaurant next to it. I was a messenger at the time and would go out delivering things by hand throughout Hamilton -- to the Post Office, the Government Administration Building and places like that.'' The company moved to its present location on Richmond Road, in 1971, he explained. "After a few years, the lady who supervised the mail room quit and I was asked if I wanted the job. So today I'm responsible for seeing that all the outgoing mail addressed to different countries is sent, and that all hand mail is distributed both within and outside the company. We have inter-office pick-ups every half hour so that everything is kept moving smoothly. But basically, American International is just a nice company to work for.'' PHOTO Leon Carter June Famous