Of the 14 Centralia School District staff members who are retiring at the end of the school year, only one can boast a 40-year career within the district.
That employee is maintenance worker Bob Bryant, who was recognized for his years of service to the district at a Centralia School Board meeting on Wednesday and at an assembly at Fords Prairie Elementary School on Thursday.
“I’m going to say this right now while he’s standing next to me, but Bob is the best custodian in the world,” Fords Prairie Principal David Roberts said during the school’s annual awards ceremony on Thursday, where Bryant was set to present awards to students who helped him clean up throughout the year.
But before he got the chance to hand out that award, he was met with a standing ovation from the staff and students at Fords Prairie Elementary School.
“You may not know this, but he’s helped clean up 4 million lunch and breakfast tables,” Roberts said of Bryant. “He’s cleaned my office like, 5,000 times. That’s a lot of times to clean up after me, nevermind cleaning up after all of us.”
The Centralia School Board formally recognized Bryant and the other retirees at its board meeting on Wednesday. Retirees were given a round of applause by those in attendance.
“I know I speak for all the board when I thank you for all your service, all your years of work and all your commitment to the students of the Centralia School District,” Board Chair Tim Browning said of all the retirees on Wednesday.
A full list of the retirees is below:
