Local motorists passing through the construction zone on the Birch Point Road in Wiscasset have likely been greeted by the famous smile and wave of Willie Noel, who has been dubbed one of Maine’s happiest flaggers.
Wiille Noel directs traffic on the Birch Point Road in Wiscasset. (Kathy Onorato photo)
Noel’s claim to fame began in 2007, when his extreme friendliness was noticed at a job site in Gardiner by a motorist who gave the story idea to a local paper. Once the article was published, Noel said the company had to move him to a different job site. His popularity was creating longer traffic backups because motorists were curious and wanted to meet him.
Because of his big smile and friendly wave, people notice Noel wherever he is working and he continues to get the attention of local media. He has saved the several newspaper articles written about him and says he has done radio and television interviews.
“It really blew up,” Noel said.
A notebook of Noel’s keepsakes includes a 2009 commentary by a Boothbay woman who wrote, “With all the negativism going on in the world today, it’s nice to see, on a daily basis, a big smile and wave from the Asplundh flagger.”
At first, people made fun of him and thought there was something wrong with him because of his friendliness, Noel said.
“It’s just me being me,” Noel said. “I am always friendly. I make meeting people a priority.”
He says during his short conversations with stopped motorists, he has received job offers, food, drinks, and even offers of money.
“Who else is getting this kind of treatment?” Noel said.
Most flaggers are not smiling, Noel said. Flaggers stand on their feet for eight to 12 hours a day, at least five days a week.
At age 57, Noel admits his back, feet, neck, and hips hurt from standing on pavement all day.
“But I always try to be loving and kind. That’s the way I was brought up,” Noel said. “When you are dealing with the public, you have to be.”
Noel said people are always amazed at how friendly he is and says he brightens up the construction zone.
Wiscasset Water District office manager Stacey Knight said her office has received numerous calls from motorists about the friendly flagger, including one from Sue Varney, Wiscasset’s assessors’ agent, who lives on Birch Point Road.
“I just love him,” said Varney, who passes through the construction area five to six times a day and always sees the happy flagger.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m bothering them,” she said.
Varney said Noel has made the inconvenience of traveling through the construction area much more bearable.
“His friendly face starts my day and my day ends with his smile,” said Varney.
Being a flagger is probably not the best job in the world, Varney said, “But is he is always wearing a great big smile. He makes his job look fun.”
Varney said she has noticed a change in the other flaggers on the job, who are starting to follow Noel’s example.
Noel said the most he has made in one year is $28,000. The job has its dangers, he said. Sometimes people aren’t paying attention and that puts the lives of flaggers at risk.
He recalls two occasions when flaggers were killed on the job. He said he came close once in Georgetown. He said he turned his sign to “stop,” checked the traffic in the other direction, turned back and saw a car coming at him at about 50 mph.
Fortunately, the driver, “a little old lady,” slammed on her brakes and stopped in time, Noel said.
“I wondered if I should turn her in. Then I thought, ‘No, she is someone’s grandmother,'” Noel said. “But I kept a lookout for her car every day.”
Even when negative things happen, Noel makes the best of a bad situation.
As a teenager, he transferred from Morse High School in Bath to archrival Brunswick High School. When he came to Morse High to play basketball for Brunswick, Noel said Morse fans booed and spat on him.
“I didn’t let it bother me. I ended up scoring 20 points in the game. We almost won,” Noel said.
Noel said he attributes his positive attitude and happy nature in part to his Maine upbringing. He admits he tried to leave Maine once, but after only a few years, he returned.
“Maine is all I know, all I am, and all I will ever be,” Noel said.
Noel said he understands the frustration of motorists held up in a construction zone, however, motorists need to be patient and not take frustrations out on the flaggers.
“We are here to make Maine a better place for them,” Noel said. “So be courteous to the flaggers.”
