ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Next week, the man who has been in charge of the fort in Downtown St. Augustine will retire after 33 years on the job.

Gordie Wilson remembers the first time he saw the fort.

"The first time I came to the Castillo was in November of 1978," Wilson recalled. "I’d never been to St. Augustine before, so I rolled into town and when I came and drove and saw the Castillo for the first time, it was a rally wonderful experience. I just thought: wow! Right in the middle of downtown St. Augustine!"

Wilson had just landed a job as a National Park Ranger at the fort. He also dressed as a reenactor.

"I fired cannons and muskets," he nodded.

He was at the Castillo for only two years, and then was sent off to another site.

But before he left, Wilson remembers, "I sat next to th

See Full Page