40 YEARS FOR A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

Byline: Jennifer Hamm Staff Writer

For nearly 40 years, Gordon Milbauer has filled the streets of Montrose with the famous ringing of the Salvation Army kettle bell.

On Friday, 79-year-old Milbauer closed a chapter in local Christmas tradition as the city's beloved kettle worker. Because of declining health, this is thought to be his last year as a bell ringer.

``He's an icon,'' said Jack Geer, a La Crescenta resident who stopped by Milbauer's kettle Friday afternoon. ``We wait every year so we can come down. He's the kind of person you look forward to seeing.''

Keeping his little silver Salvation Army bell in constant motion, Milbauer greeted everyone who walked by his kettle on Honolulu Avenue. ``Merry Christmas,'' he shouted to some; ``Hey Buddy,'' he called to others.

Many sidewalk strollers stopped, shoved a dollar in the red kettle and stayed to chat. They love hearing his jokes, singing carols with him and just shooting the breeze, they said.

For Milbauer of Tujunga, the job is more like a party than work.

``What else could you ask for? It's a nice pretty place with nice pretty people,'' he said, grinning. ``Besides, where else can you get a job with an 11-month vacation?''

When Milbauer started working as a Salvation Army bell ringer in the early 1960s, he still worked with the city of Los Angeles irrigation systems department. Until he retired in 1985, Milbauer took his annual vacation during the holiday season to accommodate his bell ringing work.

Milbauer has been a ``soldier'' for the Salvation Army for most of his life. Born in Canada, his family moved to Los Angeles when he was 6 years old.

``The first thing we did was join up with the Salvation Army,'' Milbauer said.

Milbauer suffered from infantile paralysis and has always used crutches, which he calls ``Rufus'' and ``Doofus.'' His left foot is six sizes smaller than his right.

It was during his regular stays in hospitals as a child that Milbauer learned his greatest lesson, he said.

``You learn to have a sense of humor,'' he said. ``There's no sense of having a hard nose. When you smile, you don't use as many muscles.''

The hospital was also where he found one of his great treasures his wife.

He met Evelyn during a stay in the hospital, and the two fell in love immediately. The couple married within a few years. They've been married 57 years and raised six children.

In 1962, Milbauer agreed to help the Salvation Army in Glendale during the holidays. For the first two years, he worked downtown. But in 1965, the Salvation Army set up a post in Montrose and Milbauer's been there ever since.

After nearly four decades, Milbauer only missed working last year when he was in the hospital. He was released three days before Christmas and immediately called Maj. Floyd Bacon, corps commanding officer for the Glendale Salvation Army.

``I asked him if I could work,'' Milbauer said.

But Bacon told him to take care of himself and enjoy the holiday.

Among bell ringers, Milbauer is a rarity, Bacon said. Most work a few shifts or at most, a few years. Bacon said he doesn't know of anyone who has been a bell ringer as long as Milbauer.

``Major Bacon tells me I'm the top kettle worker,'' Milbauer said. ``I'm the champ.''

Wearing the Salvation Army cap that he's had since he started as a bell ringer, Milbauer says he's never tired of the job.

``I think God blesses what I do,'' he said.

He loves watching people and chatting with them.

Does the ringing bell ever grow tiresome?

``I don't even hear it,'' he said.

Over the years, the three-day-a-week job that pays only minimum wage has been tougher for Milbauer, who goes to dialysis three times a week.

Milbauer believes this is his last year as a bell ringer, but still hopes his health will improve and he'll be back next Christmas.

Just in case, Milbauer says he'll start to miss kettle collecting when this season ends.

``Next week, I'll say I can't go back no more,'' he said.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo: (color) Gordon Milbauer's collection pot gets another donation for the Salvation Army on Friday, as it has for nearly 40 years. Milbauer says this is his last year as a bell ringer, but still hopes his health will improve and he'll be back next year.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(2) no caption (Milbauer)