(Drew) MDOT presents The Extra Mile podcast.

(Paul) Welcome in to another edition of The Extra Mile podcast presented by the Mississippi Department of Transportation. I’m MDOT Digital Media Manager Paul Katool. As always, I’m joined by my co-host Will Craft. He handles government and constituent affairs here at the agency.

And we continue to be on the road. We talked to Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill, Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill and today we are in McComb. We are here to talk to District 7 engineer Albert White. There’s a lot of good people at MDOT. I think everybody agree he’s one of the best. Excited to talk to him today. Albert, thank you so much for joining us.

(Albert White) Oh, thank you. I’ve been listening and it’s exciting to be a part of it my first podcast too.

(Paul) Nice.

(Will) There you go.

(Paul) Just a little bit of information about Albert. He’s been with MDOT almost 25 years and he’s been here as District 7 district engineer for almost 12 years. That covered in District 7 covers 13 counties in southwest Mississippi. So, let’s get to know you a little bit. So, obviously, you’ve been with MDOT for awhile. Just kind of take us through your career and up to becoming uh district seven engineer.

(Albert White) Oh wow. It’s been an awesome journey. And one of the things I tell a lot of our folks especially we’re going through some leadership training with our EIT’s and are starting with our superintendents is how God leads you throughout your career. And coming out of Ole Miss, I knew I wanted to be with MDOT. And probably the biggest part of that was I knew I wanted to be able to serve in a church and in our community but also wanted to have a family and be able to spend time with my family. But I also wanted a job that you could serve others in and MDOT’s just the perfect place and I had several offers. So, that’s where we started.

Started off working at the Whitfield project office in Jackson so and it just seemed how God put all that together and lined it up. My sister was in Jackson, so I had a place to stay. You know when you start out of college you’re usually broke. I think I had about a hundred and $50 to my name when I started and had to live a month off of that.

Uh, and like I said, I was blessed with my sister and her roommate were in Jackson. And they had an extra bedroom so I was able to stay there until I could get on my feet. So, it’s like God put all those pieces together. But the big part is is it was a place to serve and it’s a place you could be involved in community. It’s a place you could have a family and really spend time with your family.

(Will) Absolutely. How long were you in Jackson there before you came down to Magee?

(Albert White) Oh, there’s so many years gone by I can’t remember. Uh, I was actually at the Whitfield office for seven, eight years and then transferred in Construction Division downtown. Uh, and through construction I was able to work with for the most of time district two out of Batesville.

(Will) Okay.

(Albert White) That kind of stuff uh, you know, so I go to meet all those folks that worked for MDOT up there and get involved in projects. And even now I see some that we started preliminary stuff on that are getting developed still and or they’re work building them right now. So, I was able to go there for a couple years. And while I was in construction division uh Brad Lewis was the construction engineer for the state at the time. He was trying to change things up, shift his staff around. And so, he asked if I’d want to do District 7. And I was like, well, yeah. That’s where I kind of grew up down there. So, I know those places and uh so, I got to come down here. And with that I got to know the people in District 7. It wasn’t to long a year maybe the engineer at Mendenhall got another job and left an opening. And at that time, we had just moved to Magee. So, uh where my wife, her family was there so Mendenhall and Magee is seven miles apart. And they just, you know, don’t say we’re from Mendenhall.

(Will) That’s right.

(Albert White) Because folks at Magee get mad about that vice versa. So, uh so, that’s that position came open and so I took the job at Mendenhall and worked as a construction engineer or assistant construction engineer for a few years as well as the resident there and at Foxworth. And man, like I said, I had a lot of chances. I met a lot of folks here and uh about 13 years ago uh uh Melinda McGrath offered me the job here as DE and a lot more to that story. But you know again God just put in places and lined it all up and it fell in, and I love it. I think I got the best district as far as anybody. We may not have all the work and all the money that other districts have but uh I think it’s the best bunch of people to work with.

(Will) Well then you’re kind of the next question I would ask you you kind of alluded to your answer right there. I mean what are some of the things that have kept you here for that long?

(Albert White) The people.

(Will) I mean I was just I always tell folks especially the younger engineers and younger leaders and I ask them, “What do you think is the is the hardest thing to deal with MDOT? And they’ll give varied answers and stuff. And you know, I’ll tell them it’s probably people.

(Will) Right.

(Albert White) If you’ve dealt with staff and you’ve supervised folks that’s hard. But then I go back with the next question. What is the best thing that you deal with or the and it’s people.

(Will) Yeah.

(Albert White) I mean the people here are good. And I’m not just talking about District 7. I’ve had the chance to work across the state and downtown and man, MDOT’s loaded with good people. And they step up. They step up for each other and they step up to do the job and I’ve seen it for 25 years. That’s that’s what keeps me here.

(Will) Well, you’re not the only one to say that right? Commissioner Hall. I’ve heard you know on multiple occasions how you know cherished so much his time at MDOT because it excuse me it truly felt like a family. And I know Brad has said that on several occasions in his last uh or in his time already as the executive director. Just the relationships and that work-life balance that MDOT provides.

(Albert White) Oh yeah. It’s great the balance of uh as DE that it got very complicated as doing trips and mission trips. But I’ve been able to go on mission trips especially early in my career and be involved with different ministries and stuff. And even now as a parent, I get to go to my kids’ ballgames.

(Will) Right.

(Albert White) Uh, that’s huge uh just, it’s huge for them for us to go so

(Paul) No doubt. So, yeah. Everybody always talks about how close District 7 is and it’s a great testament to your uh to your leadership for sure. Um, you’ve been here awhile so can you take us through maybe some of your most memorable projects that you’ve worked on accomplished during your time here?

(Albert White) Yeah, Uh uh just two of them is one is one of the first ones I worked on, and it was actually in District 5 uh was when we widened Lakeland Drive from the interstate to Airport Road. I was an EIT right out of school and that’s the first project I worked on. Uh and all the engineers on that left though and so I ended up having to finalize it. Which if you’re an engineer with the department that’s been in the project office to finalize a job that somebody else did for the most part was is difficult because you weren’t there the whole time.

(Will) Yeah.

(Albert White) But but I was able to be there probably in the middle of when it started and see a lot and probably one of the best experience in learning, But to drive down Lakeland Drive and say I know when we did this. We put those girders across the Pearl River Bridge and seeing them bring cranes on the banks and one in the river and passing the steel girders back and forth. Uh, you know those are things you’ll always remember.

(Will) Absolutely.

(Albert White) And the other one is here in district was the Mississippi River Bridge at Natchez when we made the pin-and-link repairs.

(Pau) Oh yeah.

(Albert White) That was yeah I think some of y’all were here during that time that it was a job that a repair that had never been made on that type bridge anywhere. So, it was one of the first of its kind. It was the first of its kind so being a part of that even going we got an award for it. I went to Washington with at the time the chief engineer and I went. James Williams was the chief. And to be a part of something that special an award of something that had never been done uh so that was cool to see that and be a part of that and just that it’s the Mississippi River Bridge.

(Will) Yeah.

(albert White) You know one of the main passing points there there is in the state and the major river in the world. So, so to say you’ve done that uh is awesome. Probably the days I remember out there one of them was when we were doing some preliminary studies before we did that job and we were out on the bridge and there’s this young eagle flying over the river diving trying to catch some some wood ducks that are coming down the river, floating down the river. And every time he’d dive those wood ducks would go underwater. And he’d hover and hover in that spot and they’d pop up over there. And uh you could tell it was a young eagle because of his size and stuff. But he was trying to learn how to hunt. But we stood there probably thirty minutes on that bridge

(Will) To watch

(Albert White) Watch. And those are some of the memories you get by just being out in the field and uh seeing that most people won’t ever have.

(Will) No doubt.

(Paul) No doubt.

(Will) Kind of keeping on that maybe not uh the most memorable projects but talking about projects going on around here. Let’s skip around a little bit. But got a good bit going on in the district right now. Any kind of projects you want to highlight?

(Albert White) Well, a lot of our lottery projects are wrapping up.

(Will) Yeah a lot of stuff.

(Albert White) So, we can’t wait till the next group comes around.

(Will) Right?

(Albert White) But most of them are finishing up that that’s in our area. Uh, some of the big ones so so right now most of what we’ve had is overlays. We’re not as we don’t have the traffic so, we don’t have the huge uh and adding additional lane type projects. But we’ve had that.

We’ve had a bridge replacement in Marion County that just got completed on one ninety-eight. And it was a it was a good unique little project. Good for our young engineers to see and get some experience. Those engineers down there fixing to replace the Pearl River Bridge on 98 in the next couple years. So, it’s a good prep job.
(Will) Absolutely.

(Albert White) to see. That’s going to be a huge job for us. The other job coming up in the next year and a half is here in McComb on the interstate on I-55 right out from where I have this last concrete section remaining of the original interstates right when it was built. So, we’ll rebalize it with me which means to break it up into concrete little small stones and pave over it with asphalt. The concrete is way past its life.

Uh and just to keep it repaired is more costly than doing the rebalization process and paving over it. And in that project we’ll also lower uh not lower but raise some bridges as well uh to improve clearance and uh make some modifications that are some of the interchange. And that’ll be a huge uh probably $60, $70 million-dollar job in our area. That’s for District 7 that’s a that’s a huge. Uh so, we’re really excited about it and the bridge replacement in Marion County and a few other bridge replacements coming up one in Simpson and Franklin County. Not only they’re good jobs and needed jobs, but it also gives our young folks some experience with the construction process.

(Will) Sure. You mentioned uh you know overlays and lottery, but I mean especially with you kind of talking about the district uh more overlays than kind of big project. Has that lottery been a big impact for you guys?

(Albert White) Oh yeah. It’s huge. If you ride around our district you can see how much extra we were able to hit. Uh, the unfortunate part is the cost going up this last just the last six, eight months is I’ve told folks before and told y’all earlier that we all were on this high because look at all the money we’re getting to to do all this extra work and then the costs go up so high and it’s like you come back to reality. This is all we’re going to be able to do. It’s still more.

(Will) Sure. Right.

(Albert White) I can’t imagine what it’d be without the lottery. Uh, you might in just our thirteen counties, if we didn’t have the lottery we would probably do four overlays a year.
(Will) Wow. Yeah.

(Albert White) Well with the lottery we’re probably doing an additional seven overlay. It’s

(Will) That’s awesome.

(Albert White) That’s even with the money like it is now. Now when when if prices can go back down to somewhere reasonable or there is additional funding you just think how you go from 11 overlays to 15 to 20 overlays in these 13 counties it makes a huge difference.

(Will) Oh no kidding. Yeah.

(Albert White) So, we’re excited that the lottery has been great for for the area. We’ve got a lot of things we didn’t think we would be getting for six or seven years getting it paved. So, uh we are excited and look forward to hopefully getting some additional funds or additional ways to address that uh because we are still behind

(Will) Sure.

(Albert White) uh where we want our roads to be.

(Will) Yeah.

(Paul) Very good. Well, that’s all-significant money for sure. So, so Albert, we know you’re on a little bit of a health journey. You’ve been an inspiration to us all. Can you kind of take us through that a little bit?

(Albert White) Yeah. Actually, a year ago today Nov. 1 is when I found out I had cancer. Uh and we’re actually on our I guess you’d say our third round of the journey. Uh, it’s one of those things you think about. We think about it and it’s not a thing you want to hear but through this process God has been so good to us. And first of all, that he’s with us as we walk through it. But also, the way he’s allowed people around us to encourage us and to build up our family. Uh, that’s probably one of the if I ever get to retirement age is gonna be the hardest thing because so many people have been so good to us here at MDOT. And that’s all I can think of. I don’t want to leave those people. Um, not talking about retirement so

(Will) Yeah.

(Albert White) But in this journey in the health that is the biggest think is seeing what people in our church and our community, even in our industry is the construction engineering and especially the MDOT people have just carried us through this. And we’re just hopefully to get started on treatment soon again for this third round. We always know that God’s in control. I told y’all this earlier this just being learning to be satisfied where God has us is where we’re at. Because again he’s always provided. He’s always put people in our path to encourage us and advocate for us.

It has been a journey you don’t want to go on, but it has been an awesome journey with God and with the people God has put in our path. And I always want to say thank you to the MDOT folks that statewide have carried my family and I through this so far. And I do appreciate it and I it’s a good prognosis and we’re fighting it and we’re going to keep fighting it.

(Will) Man, just you know, I think I can speak for everybody. You know, your faith and your resilience throughout all this. And your commitment to your your folks here at MDOT even when you’re undergoing all this. It’s just such a testament to your character and the good man, great man that you are.

Um, so, I know again, I feel pretty comfortable, I speak for everybody at MDOT. Man, we thoroughly appreciate you and your kind words. I mean we should be doling more of those appreciations on you than you the other way. So, yeah. Thank you for everything you do, man and for being Albert taking care of D7 down here.

(Albert White) I appreciate it. I just challenge people because I can name names right now and I’m not because I didn’t ask permission from them. There are a lot of people in our MDOT family. They’re going through things even worse than I am. And I think that’s the good thing about MDOT. You may not hear about them but the folks around them are taking care of them that are with MDOT.

But I’m thinking of people right now. And y’all just keep encouraging the folks you’re around. I try to remind our leaders and our young people here uh and I look at you two. Both of y’all are young to me. I appreciate it all and well y’all but I always keep people as a priority. Always faith is a priority. But here when we’re doing our jobs, the job will take care of itself as long as we take care of our people.

So, pray for your folks. Serve your folks. Encourage your folks. And at whatever position you’re at in MDOT because it is I see the impact of that. And and like I said, that’s what we need because we’ll the job will take care of itself if we take care of our people.

(Will) I have a sneaky suspicion that most of your folks down here are ready to run through a brick wall for you if need be. I think you’ve taken care of folks.

(Paul) We’re all we are all on well we are all on your side for sure, Albert. And of course, we appreciate the kind words. Will, um why don’t you take us home with

(Will) Yeah, man.

(Paul) our favorite question.

(Will) Absolutely. We’re out and about once again as always seems like these days. We like to eat, Drew. We like to eat, Paul. So, Albert, we were looking maybe you could give us a lunch suggestion. You got a favorite spot around here in the area maybe even one outside the area that you don’t get to pop into too often?

(Albert White) Uh, they’re a lot I like to eat as y’all can see.

(Paul) That’s why we all get along.

(Will) That’s right.

(Albert White) My wife just so she knows hers is the best cooking.

(Will) Hey. There you go.

(Albert White) I don’t want a

(Will) Smart man.

(Albert White) But I can’t always be at home uh and at Natchez we like several places. Route 61 is a favorite of mine and a lot of my staff. Uh, this is more of a seafood place uh so you got Bogue Chitto Boys in Bogue Chitto between here and Brookhaven. It’s a new restaurant that is a favorite of some of our folks. You got the Dinner Bell here in McComb. Everybody usually wants to come to McComb and eat. It’s a round table type

(Will) Yeah.

(Alfred White) restaurant. And then on the other side you got Berry’s. Everybody loves Berry’s Seafood if you want to eat a lot. Uh, you got it in Magee. And you you of course got Zips in Magee.

(Will) There it is.

(Albert White) You know that one well so and I know our director knows very much.

(Will) Right.

(Albert White) So, that’s not the only place. There’s a lot of places. It’s finding those little holes in the walls that nobody really knows other than the locals. That’s the cool thing sometimes it’s finding them because we have a lot of those little gems uh around southwest Mississippi.

(Will) I might have to help.

(Albert White) If you come down here in our thirteen counties and you need to know an exact place call me. I’ll even shout out give Matt Dugas a call.

(Will) Yeah.

(Alfred White) Matt is the he knows where everything is to eat and what to eat at each one. But let us know and we’ll direct you in the right place.

(Paul) Perfect. Amazing.

(Will) We have plenty of stops. We have like four places we gotta go for lunch.

(Paul) Oh yeah. We’re out of the list is becoming out of control of all the places we have to eat. But that’s a good thing.

(Will) Give me a very fun follow up tour.

(Paul) Yes. Yes. Albert, we really appreciate you letting us come uh down to district seven and talk. You uh just an inspirational guy. Awesome dude. Doing great work down here. So, thank you for joining us.

(Albert White) Thank you, Paul. Thank you both.

(Paul) Absolutely. So, let’s go ahead and wrap things up. Uh, thank you out there to all of our listeners for tuning into The Extra Mile podcast. Remember you can listen and watch episodes by visiting GoMDOT.com/TheExtraMile. We want to thank our editor Drew Hall, our producer Katey Hornsby. They do a lot of work behind the scenes to make this show happen. Remember to follow us on social media updates can be found at @MississippiDOT on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram. Um, you can get a lot of information there. So, yeah. We’ll go ahead and wrap things up with the tagline. Remember to drive smart out there on Mississippi highways.