MOUNT VERNON — Steve Smith doesn’t much like attention, but the staff of The Station Break threw him a party, anyway. It was, after all, in celebration of 25 years of employment there.
Smith, 56, describes himself as a “jack of all trades,” which means he’s responsible for building maintenance, keeping the organization’s 19 vehicles running, mowing the lawn, trimming shrubbery, planting flowers and such. He’s also the training coordinator and is licensed by the state to teach defensive driving classes. As if all that isn’t enough to keep him busy, Smith also delivers 25 to 30 hot lunches a day to Danville, Martinsburg and Bladensburg, Utica, Howard and Millwood.
“I do whatever needs to be done, inside and out. It’s what you get for telling them you can do something,” said Smith. “But I really enjoy working here. The seniors really help me. When I first started working here, I was going through a rough time and they helped me as much as I helped them.”
Following the small party in Smith’s honor, Bob McIlvain, The Station Break’s assistant director, said, “Steve has shown a lot of dedication to the seniors of Knox County. And 25 years is a long time. When we reflect on those years, I wouldn’t be able to count the number of seniors he has served. He’s a valuable member of our staff, and he often volunteers his time, off the clock. He has an attitude we all appreciate. He’s dependable.”
“I enjoy helping the seniors,” said Smith, “and I like being around them. After all, I’ll be one of them someday.”
