School district admin building named after custodian Joe Arnold

During their July meeting, the Hot Springs County School Board named the district’s central administration building after Joe Arnold, and made an auditorium sign for William H. Malloy, following Superintendent Dustin Hunt’s request to make an exception to their facility naming policy.

“One of the best parts of my job is recognizing people for outstanding achievements,” Hunt said. “Arnold has demonstrated so many of the qualities that we hope to see in our young people, such as dedication, work ethic, consistency, compassion, pride and a job well-done.”

In January, Arnold will have 60 years in his field, as a custodian in the state of Wyoming, but as Hunt reported, “He has no plans to retire anytime soon,” in spite of two “extremely life-threatening” motorcycle accidents and a burn incident, because “his passion for the job goes well beyond pride in his work.”

Hunt added, “He doesn’t look at the time clock. He looks at the job to be completed.”

Hunt noted how often Arnold’s vehicle can be seen in the school district parking lot outside of his hours, “even on Sundays, after church, of course.”

Hunt recounted how Arnold’s hammer-toe required a titanium pin be put through the end of the toe, to straighten it out, incurring a “considerable and painful” recovery time, and yet, it didn’t stop Arnold from showing up with a shovel during the heavy snowstorm that followed shortly after his surgery.

“I met Joe on the steps, shoveling with a plastic sack over his newly repaired toe, to keep it dry,” Hunt said. “He’d been shoveling since about 3:30 a.m. He was worried that, if he didn’t get the snow cleared, someone might fall. It’s routine to see him shoveling pathways through the snow to employees’ cars, so they don’t have to clear walkways to their car doors.”

Hunt touted how Arnold likewise scrubs carpet spots with a toothbrush.

“Any place he cleans, shines,” Hunt said. “Any night there’s a public event at the auditorium, he’s positioned at the elevator, to assist the elderly and disabled. He waits until the performance is finished, to escort them back to the parking lot.”

According to Hunt, Arnold even attends “every cookie-jar auction in town,” for those affected by cancer, purchasing high-dollar items only to give them back to the auctions, “so they can sell them again, to raise more money.”

Hunt noted, “When he wins an auction a second time, he usually gives the item away to the person in need.”

In Hunt’s estimation, Arnold’s contributions to education “stretch far beyond shiny buildings and compassion for others,” as he’s also worked with students to teach them his trade.

“They learn so many valuable lessons,” Hunt said. “Student groups often show up at the admin building to seek Joe out, to bring thank-yous for his contributions to them.”

Hunt further attested to how “it’s not uncommon” for Arnold to dispense thousands of dollars to students, to go toward their educational costs, and to continue to help them financially until they graduate from college.

“He’s as humble as people come, and he’s probably embarrassed that I would share this,” Hunt said. “He certainly doesn’t do it for credit. His efforts stretch well beyond the scope of his job.

His title is custodian, but he’s been teaching students and adults for many years by example.”

Since Arnold is already in his 80s, Hunt believes that he’s unlikely to retire “as long as his body is capable,” so “it would be a true disservice to wait until he can no longer work, or even possibly not be present,” for this honor.