Okay, let’s calculate this. Gary has 39 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, which is a long time. His experience as a manager at AT&T, a well-established company, adds to his credibility. Skills like vendor management, customer retention, and product management are in demand. However, considering his role is retired, I'll look at average rates for experienced managers in the industry. According to national averages, experienced managers in the US can earn between $75 and $150 per hour. Given Gary's extensive experience and industry knowledge, I'll estimate his hourly rate to be around $125.