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The Small, But Mighty Rose Wood

CINCINNATI - After raising five children, and now spending time with nine grandchildren, you'd think Rose Wood might want to be resting in a chair of her own. Instead, she spends her days as a wheelchair escort at Cincinnati

Rose had been a housewife for many years, raising Marcia, Kevin, Cindy, Jennifer and Allison. Her youngest had moved to Chicago and Rose was ready for another phase of her life. Because of high cholesterol, her doctor had recommended that she exercise. "I tried the gym and that didn't work out," Rose said. "I tried walking and that didn't work out either."

Her sister, Margie Trantor, works at the airport and saw an ad for a wheelchair escort and thought it would be a great way for Rose to get the exercise she needed.

"It's wonderful exercise," said Rose. "And I love my job." She has been there almost two years and loves meeting new people all the time. "They tell me all their problems because they will never see me again," she said.

She once helped a woman from South Carolina who was traveling on her own. She had gotten divorced, and then lost her 13-year-old son to a heart condition. "I talked with her about it a little bit, then gave her a little medal with an angel on it." She said, 'Honey, you've helped me quite a bit.'"

Some folks she may only spend a few minutes with, some a great deal longer. Some of the passengers have Alzheimer's and others don't speak English. Rose says that one of the toughest challenges for her is when she picks someone up from international and their papers aren't filled out and she has to get them through security.

She once spent three hours with a woman from Amsterdam. No one spoke her language and the woman was frightened to death. Rose took her to the restroom, then waited with her for three hours until her flight.

And judging from the volume of comments that are sent in about her, she makes quite an impression on the people she meets. They all voice a common theme - Rose's assistance made their air travel experience a pleasant one.

"Everyone has been really nice to me," she said. "Even if they are upset I talk to them a while and they calm down. No one has ever been angry at me."

Rose has been married to Jack for 43 years. A retired chemical salesman who has leukemia that is currently in remission, they started a business from home called Recognition World, selling advertising items with company logos. Rose had been working 24 hours a week, but has picked up a few more shifts recently. "I had to work more because now my husband is home more," she says jokingly.

John Alford, Customer Service above wing manager, is Rose's supervisor and says that Rose is the model of what you would like for every employee. "Her professionalism, politeness and caring for passengers is obvious," he said. "She clearly enjoys what she does. I have never seen her in any different mood, regardless of the situation. She really connects with the passengers. For them to have somebody take an interest in their day is important." He says her positive outlook is refreshing.

Rose expresses appreciation for the work John does as well. "He works really hard and spends a lot of time here," she said. "He buys us food and always has something nice and kind to say to us."