In surprise ceremony, Beaverton’s Taye Yemeru receives FAA master mechanic award

Taye Yemeru really wanted to go to the coast with his wife that Friday.

He requested the day off work, but was denied. Yemeru’s boss at the Federal Aviation Administration’s Certificate Management Office in Hillsboro told him he had to be there for an important training session.

Expecting a work meeting, Yemeru entered a carpeted room filled with family, friends, coworkers and U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, who all greeted him with smiles and cheers or applause.

Bonamici presented Yemeru with the FAA’s Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, which honors selected senior mechanics who have worked in aviation maintenance for at least 50 years and are U.S. citizens, in a surprise ceremony earlier this month at his workplace. Yemeru plans to retire at the end of the year after 57 years as an aviation mechanic, he said.

It was the first Charles Taylor award Bonamici has presented, and the opportunity was “a great honor,” she said. Five Washington County residents have received the award: Four from Hillsboro and one from Beaverton, spokeswoman Alexandra Gilliland said in an email.

The honoree’s daughter, Fanaye Taye, flew in from Georgia to attend the ceremony.

“He has always put his family first, then his passion,” Taye said. “He did what he needed to do to provide for us in the field that he loved and he excelled. I’m happy for that.”

Born in 1937, Yemeru grew up in Ethiopia and can speak several dialects of Ethiopian, French and English. He studied maintenance engineering in college, then started working for Ethiopian Airlines right after he graduated, he said.

In 1980, Yemeru moved to the United States. He has since become a citizen and raised his family in Oregon, where he worked for several aircraft carriers before he started at the FAA in 1990, he said. He currently lives in Beaverton.

While with Ethiopian Airlines, Yemeru flew on a few special missions with the emperor at the time, Haile Selassie, who Yemeru referred to as the king. It wasn’t something he had anticipated being asked to do.

“It’s unusual, it was quite a privilege,” Yemeru said.

He lists that among his greatest highlights.

Yemeru has been stationed in dozens of countries, usually to fix a problem, he said.

“That puts you in a lot of pressure,” Yemeru said. “The main thing is just enjoy working.”

The international travel didn’t stop when Yemeru moved to the U.S. and settled down. His family has accompanied him on many trips over the years, he said.

Moving to a new country was challenging at first: Yemeru had to prove himself all over again, he said. But eventually, he moved up the ranks to his current position.

Retirement comes after a few years of contemplation.  But the decision wasn’t difficult, he said. He has enjoyed his work so far, but is ready to stop.

“I don’t want to work until I die,” Yemeru said.

Yemeru’s coworkers will miss him dearly, many said.

For Terry Wilmeth, who helped nominate Yemeru, the older man has been a mentor since they met in 1987.  Yemeru was always patient, always helpful, always understanding of mistakes, Wilmeth said.

“He has huge shoes to fill,” Wilmeth said. “I doubt anyone will be able to.”

The most important thing Taye’s father taught her was that she should act with passion, she said.

“Whatever you do, do to the best of your ability, because it has your name on it,” Taye said.