RAMSEY, Ind. (WDRB) -- Hard work is a lost art that North Harrison Middle School Custodian Henry King has been chipping away at for five decades.
"He takes care of restroom and floors," student Easton Roller said.
"Oh my gosh, he's a dying breed, Principal Nissa Ellett said. "I get emotional thinking about it. I don't know anyone who has worked anywhere for 50 years — in the same location."
"Since Sept. 2, 1975," King added.
He was 19 then, 69-years-old now.
"I didn't always have grey hair," King said, as he looked at an old yearbook photo of himself.
King was born into manual labor, doing his part on a Harrison County chicken farm.
"We raised 250,000 chickens at times, so it was a lot of hard work," King said.
Then he followed his mom into janitorial work.
"I worked eight years with my mother," King said.
Every walk through the hallway to do that next job, these days, is a reminder of the woman who made him who he is.
"Always will," King said. "It's special."
Could explain why he's held onto the job, for as long as he has. Work he's decided to give up this school year, but not before students and teachers gave him a retirement present. They lined the halls to show their appreciation.
"Quite amazing," King said.
Janitors are often overlooked, but not at North Harrison Middle School.
"He will be irreplaceable," Ellett said.
"A great role model," Roller added.
King is showing the next generation that hard work does in fact pay off.
"I want to aspire to be someone who works just as hard as he is," student, Solomon Eckart said.
King's last day is May 22.
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