Robert Small, 81, of West Des Moines is determined to stay active. The Montana transplant found work at Happy Joe's pizza restaurant in West Des Moines.
LISA FERNANDEZ/THE REGISTER
Robert Small, who lives in West Des Moines, joined the Happy Joe's team in October. A transplant from Billings, Mont., Small and his wife, Gloria, decided to move closer to relatives after he underwent heart bypass surgery. And nothing slowed the 81-year-old, who hit Iowa dirt running and didn't stop until he found a job.
He was tenacious: He dropped off several applications around West Des Moines and soon was snapped up by Happy Joe's, True Parkway, where his main task is busing tables during the weekday lunch rush.
Customer Patty Hutchins of West Des Moines said she was struck by Small's attitude as she watched him work one afternoon when she stopped in for lunch.
"I watched him and thought how motivating he is for others, staying active and being involved in the community," said Hutchins, who actually has more in common with Small than just the restaurant.
Like Small, who was a schoolteacher for more than 10 years and worked in food service for many years, Hutchins spent many years waitressing and now is a special education teacher's associate for West Des Moines' Walnut Creek Campus.
"I guess part of me sees that we're a little alike; we see the reward in hard work and staying active.," she said. "He touched my heart that day. It says a lot about his integrity and values to be working at 81."
Small said he enjoys working around a younger staff he calls a "capable, good bunch of workers. I find it amusing to listen to them talk about music. They go on and on about their music and I have no idea who they are talking about, but it is so interesting."
He plans to be a part of the team as long as the managers will have him. That's good news to Happy Joe's co-owner Jim Nash, who bought the store five years ago with his wife, Jean. They want Small - who they call a star employee - around as long as he will put up with them, Jim Nash said.
Nash knows Small is a nontraditional employee, but the experience he brings along with his positive attitude makes him a respected member of the team. "He anticipates needs of the job, listens to the customers. He's 'Dad' to most of us, trading jokes with the rest of the staff. He has their respect."
Small said the job is a good fit and he doesn't dwell on being decades older than many of his colleagues. "I don't really know how old they are and I don't care," he said. "As long as they know what they are doing, it's fine with me."
Having the job to look forward to does more for Small than his employer realizes, he added. He's watched friends back in Montana retire and become less and less active, and he doesn't want to follow that pattern. "Those people are no longer around," Small said.
Turning more jovial he announced he announced he plans to live beyond the century mark and would like to eventually succumb to some rare tropical disease. Until then, retirement isn't even in the cards. "I'm going to do this as long as I am able," he said. "Maybe if I make it to 102, I may retire."
His wife, Gloria, approves of that plan. She said having her husband work keeps him out of her hair. And besides, she's too busy logging many volunteer hours at Mercy Medical Center to be concerned with how he'll spend his time.
By Micholyn Fajen
Register Correspondent
Copyright © 2005, The Des Moines Register.
July 21, 2006
USA: 81-year-old Hired for His Spunk and Attitude
DES MOINES, Iowa (Des Moines Register), July 21, 2006:
Young adults looking for summer jobs while on hiatus from school tend to flock to restaurants, and pizza establishments are a popular draw for the high school- and college-aged worker.
Happy Joe's pizza restaurant in West Des Moines is breaking the mold with a star employee managers say they're holding onto tightly and don't fear losing once classes resume in the fall.
Robert Small, 81, of West Des Moines is determined to stay active. The Montana transplant found work at Happy Joe's pizza restaurant in West Des Moines.
LISA FERNANDEZ/THE REGISTER
Robert Small, who lives in West Des Moines, joined the Happy Joe's team in October. A transplant from Billings, Mont., Small and his wife, Gloria, decided to move closer to relatives after he underwent heart bypass surgery. And nothing slowed the 81-year-old, who hit Iowa dirt running and didn't stop until he found a job.
He was tenacious: He dropped off several applications around West Des Moines and soon was snapped up by Happy Joe's, True Parkway, where his main task is busing tables during the weekday lunch rush.
Customer Patty Hutchins of West Des Moines said she was struck by Small's attitude as she watched him work one afternoon when she stopped in for lunch.
"I watched him and thought how motivating he is for others, staying active and being involved in the community," said Hutchins, who actually has more in common with Small than just the restaurant.
Like Small, who was a schoolteacher for more than 10 years and worked in food service for many years, Hutchins spent many years waitressing and now is a special education teacher's associate for West Des Moines' Walnut Creek Campus.
"I guess part of me sees that we're a little alike; we see the reward in hard work and staying active.," she said. "He touched my heart that day. It says a lot about his integrity and values to be working at 81."
Small said he enjoys working around a younger staff he calls a "capable, good bunch of workers. I find it amusing to listen to them talk about music. They go on and on about their music and I have no idea who they are talking about, but it is so interesting."
He plans to be a part of the team as long as the managers will have him. That's good news to Happy Joe's co-owner Jim Nash, who bought the store five years ago with his wife, Jean. They want Small - who they call a star employee - around as long as he will put up with them, Jim Nash said.
Nash knows Small is a nontraditional employee, but the experience he brings along with his positive attitude makes him a respected member of the team. "He anticipates needs of the job, listens to the customers. He's 'Dad' to most of us, trading jokes with the rest of the staff. He has their respect."
Small said the job is a good fit and he doesn't dwell on being decades older than many of his colleagues. "I don't really know how old they are and I don't care," he said. "As long as they know what they are doing, it's fine with me."
Having the job to look forward to does more for Small than his employer realizes, he added. He's watched friends back in Montana retire and become less and less active, and he doesn't want to follow that pattern. "Those people are no longer around," Small said.
Turning more jovial he announced he announced he plans to live beyond the century mark and would like to eventually succumb to some rare tropical disease. Until then, retirement isn't even in the cards. "I'm going to do this as long as I am able," he said. "Maybe if I make it to 102, I may retire."
His wife, Gloria, approves of that plan. She said having her husband work keeps him out of her hair. And besides, she's too busy logging many volunteer hours at Mercy Medical Center to be concerned with how he'll spend his time.
By Micholyn Fajen
Register Correspondent
Copyright © 2005, The Des Moines Register.
Robert Small, 81, of West Des Moines is determined to stay active. The Montana transplant found work at Happy Joe's pizza restaurant in West Des Moines.
LISA FERNANDEZ/THE REGISTER
Robert Small, who lives in West Des Moines, joined the Happy Joe's team in October. A transplant from Billings, Mont., Small and his wife, Gloria, decided to move closer to relatives after he underwent heart bypass surgery. And nothing slowed the 81-year-old, who hit Iowa dirt running and didn't stop until he found a job.
He was tenacious: He dropped off several applications around West Des Moines and soon was snapped up by Happy Joe's, True Parkway, where his main task is busing tables during the weekday lunch rush.
Customer Patty Hutchins of West Des Moines said she was struck by Small's attitude as she watched him work one afternoon when she stopped in for lunch.
"I watched him and thought how motivating he is for others, staying active and being involved in the community," said Hutchins, who actually has more in common with Small than just the restaurant.
Like Small, who was a schoolteacher for more than 10 years and worked in food service for many years, Hutchins spent many years waitressing and now is a special education teacher's associate for West Des Moines' Walnut Creek Campus.
"I guess part of me sees that we're a little alike; we see the reward in hard work and staying active.," she said. "He touched my heart that day. It says a lot about his integrity and values to be working at 81."
Small said he enjoys working around a younger staff he calls a "capable, good bunch of workers. I find it amusing to listen to them talk about music. They go on and on about their music and I have no idea who they are talking about, but it is so interesting."
He plans to be a part of the team as long as the managers will have him. That's good news to Happy Joe's co-owner Jim Nash, who bought the store five years ago with his wife, Jean. They want Small - who they call a star employee - around as long as he will put up with them, Jim Nash said.
Nash knows Small is a nontraditional employee, but the experience he brings along with his positive attitude makes him a respected member of the team. "He anticipates needs of the job, listens to the customers. He's 'Dad' to most of us, trading jokes with the rest of the staff. He has their respect."
Small said the job is a good fit and he doesn't dwell on being decades older than many of his colleagues. "I don't really know how old they are and I don't care," he said. "As long as they know what they are doing, it's fine with me."
Having the job to look forward to does more for Small than his employer realizes, he added. He's watched friends back in Montana retire and become less and less active, and he doesn't want to follow that pattern. "Those people are no longer around," Small said.
Turning more jovial he announced he announced he plans to live beyond the century mark and would like to eventually succumb to some rare tropical disease. Until then, retirement isn't even in the cards. "I'm going to do this as long as I am able," he said. "Maybe if I make it to 102, I may retire."
His wife, Gloria, approves of that plan. She said having her husband work keeps him out of her hair. And besides, she's too busy logging many volunteer hours at Mercy Medical Center to be concerned with how he'll spend his time.
By Micholyn Fajen
Register Correspondent
Copyright © 2005, The Des Moines Register.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment