The Boone Show
The Boone Show
The Boone Show - S5 E6 - ACTC Says Farewell to Justin Atkin: Celebrating a Legacy of Humor and Creativity
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Prepare for a whirlwind of laughter, memories, and heartfelt farewells on The Boone Show as we welcome back the talented Justin Atkin, our beloved director of facilities. With a lively mix of humor and wisdom, Justin brings his vibrant energy to the studio as he braces for a new chapter. Join us as we explore Justin’s knack for balancing countless duties - including his art, music, and grits ventures - with his family.
Unravel the fascinating journey that took Justin from his student days in 1999 to being a cornerstone at the Career Center. As a director, artist, and practical joker, his creative legacy shines bright. We'll explore his unique ability to blend technical expertise with artistic flair, turning school facilities into top-tier environments. Alongside his passion for art, inspired by his family, Justin’s multifaceted talents have left an indelible mark. As he retires, he leaves behind a trail of stories and pranks that all highlight his relentless pursuit of excellence.
Through heartwarming anecdotes from family life to mischievous office shenanigans, Justin’s impact is celebrated by everyone he's touched. With admiration and gratitude, we honor his legacy and look forward to future collaborations. This is not goodbye, just a pause before new adventures. Toast to Justin’s next chapter and the laughter-filled memories that will linger long after his departure.
Welcome everybody to the Boone Show on MyPulse Radio.
Speaker 2:It's going to be a great show today. It is.
Speaker 1:It's going to be an awesome show today, and I'll tell you why Because we have one of our favorite guests here, and it won't be the last time he's a guest.
Speaker 2:I'm sure, oh, absolutely not. It can't be. You can see him over there, holly.
Speaker 1:There we go, but I'm John Boone, the boss. Lady's here, holly Harrell.
Speaker 2:Good, I'm John Boone.
Speaker 1:The boss lady's here. Holly Harrell, good evening. And Puggles Harrell, hello. The new sports medicine person.
Speaker 3:Well, I'm actually a joint Sealy's class, by the way, wow.
Speaker 1:By the way, Holly.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir.
Speaker 1:And for those of you listening, because this is it's going to be an ACTC-centric show today. All right, but maybe you'll get to feel some of the inner workings here. But your daughter said there was too much work in my class.
Speaker 3:There's a project, Guys listen.
Speaker 1:So there you go. For all those people that tell you they don't do anything in media broadcasting, they must do nothing at all in sports medicine. That's all I have to say. Listen, listen, Because that's what she wants to tell you.
Speaker 3:No no, no, no, no. He is twisting my words. There is a project every single day, yeah, and you don't really get a break day that's right.
Speaker 1:You're only in my class for 20 days. What do you need a break for?
Speaker 3:well, like you, don't get a day to be able to catch up on that, and everything has to be recorded on the specific microphone, so you can only do the work while you're in this class but we're doing something every single day.
Speaker 2:That's right. Thank you, mr boone, for being a great instructor. Yeah, but now you need to get on miss royals because something's going on down here.
Speaker 1:She's getting all these numbers of people wanting to come in there. They're not coming in there to work. I tell you that kids don't sign up for work now and now. She just gave me madeline, just gave me a little view into what it is, because my class has never been accused of having too much work it is not difficult, it's easy work.
Speaker 3:It just happens every single day.
Speaker 1:So you don't? Oh, my goodness. That's why there's weekends, you ask. We're supposed to be preparing you for the work world. What are you doing?
Speaker 3:I can't record. There's too much work today. You have, I want, I want a four-hour shift instead of an eight-hour shift.
Speaker 2:Madeline, you might as well just give up child.
Speaker 3:No, because you are twisting my words, Justin. Am I a hard worker?
Speaker 4:Very hard, exactly Very hard.
Speaker 1:Exactly. Yeah, I never said you weren't a hard worker. You said there was too much work.
Speaker 4:I don't know about school work.
Speaker 3:I have never witnessed that I am an all-A student. Here we go. Oh my gosh, are you serious, ben?
Speaker 1:No, I'm just saying what you've. I've read the survey. I always do an exit survey. Hey, you'll be valedictorian now that you got sports medicine.
Speaker 7:You'll breeze right through that, you just helped your GPA immensely.
Speaker 4:You'll just breeze right through that.
Speaker 3:Listen. Yes, you'll just breeze right through that. You probably listen. Yes, you can only do the assignments in this class. You can't go home and do it because you have to do it on that.
Speaker 1:That's right. I don't believe in homework I hope not.
Speaker 3:How would you do the homework? Yeah that's just kind of common. So what are you complaining?
Speaker 1:about you have no homework and you have to work in class. I mean, isn't that what you're supposed to do?
Speaker 2:But you don't get. It's funny. She came home and told me that too, and I'm like good, I'm glad he's assigning something every single day.
Speaker 1:I just smiled because I knew I'd be talking to your mom about it. I bet so, Because she's always like rigor, rigor, rigor.
Speaker 2:Oh, really yeah. That's how that works and everybody thinks media broadcasting is just a lot of fun.
Speaker 3:You went even lower.
Speaker 1:Look, you went even lower, hey hey, it just told me more about voils than it tells me about you.
Speaker 3:Maybe I like Celia's class more and he has assigned seats.
Speaker 1:And you like that.
Speaker 3:I mean, I'm enjoying his class.
Speaker 1:I'm already on the third lesson you enjoyed our class.
Speaker 3:I did like your class.
Speaker 1:And now you're saying you're already on the third lesson.
Speaker 3:But I'm excelling in Celia's class.
Speaker 2:Oh, my Lord, we need to refocus.
Speaker 1:She only got a 99 on my side. So she failed on that side, didn't get the 100. Boom, just out of spite 99.
Speaker 3:Guys, this will be my last show. I will not be returning For some reason.
Speaker 1:I go through a lot of producers. I For some reason I go through a lot of producers. I don't know why it is. It must be the personality, but anyway, we're not here to talk about Madeline. We are here to talk about Justin Atkin, one of our favorite guests. He's here with us, our director of facilities, who is wrapping up his days in that role.
Speaker 2:Long days too, that's right, long days.
Speaker 1:Many times Justin would come into my office and after school or whatever, and we'd have some conversations, always enjoyed them, but I'd always end up saying, how do you have time for this? Because he'd be telling me all the stuff he was doing and I'm like how do you do it? Share your wisdom, because I need more of that time, because I'm not getting enough done and you're just starting new ventures here and there. Let's just start another one.
Speaker 2:He is, like the greatness, master of multitasking oh I mean seriously. He's got a hundred projects going on at one time all the time.
Speaker 1:Well he, he's finally getting rid of one.
Speaker 4:The 40-hour-a-week one.
Speaker 1:That's right, that's right, it just so happens that it's the Career Center one. How many years have you been here?
Speaker 4:I've been here. Well, I started as a student back in 99, and I worked part-time in 2000. And then, the day after I graduated high school, I started full-time.
Speaker 2:At 6 am that night. 6 am the next morning.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that's legendary.
Speaker 1:And I'm not saying it is or it is not referenced in some of our tributes later on. But yeah, that's amazing. Work at one place for that long and work yourself up to the top where you can tell Hollywood to do it, that's right. It's really an accomplishment, but you do have a lot of stuff going on. You have been adding things over the years and I am just amazed, holly, by the talent this man has in so many different areas.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, it's multifaceted.
Speaker 1:It's like you're not here right now, Justin. I've never met anybody like him that does this stuff and does it all well.
Speaker 2:Right and then knows so much there are right a lot of people try to do so.
Speaker 1:So many things, um, but that that must be one thing that you're you're always hungry to learn oh, yeah, yeah, never quit learning yeah, so I mean, this was the kind of job and teaching. This was the kind of job you could do that that's right oh yeah, I mean, you build a radio studio yeah that's the first one you ever build of those that's right you're gonna build another one down on the acting compound we've talked about, he should do a podcast he really should.
Speaker 1:But, um, before we get into what everybody has to say about him and then you can react accordingly, I want people that are just tuning in that may not know you so well, to know all the different things you are into, of course, being the facilities director here, if you've ever been in the Career Center, you see one of the best kept up buildings and facilities that you'll ever see and of course you're a part, like in our program, of getting us the very best stuff. Holly may have to approve it, but you guys got to put it in.
Speaker 2:And do most of the research for it.
Speaker 1:And we are constantly getting compliments about, even on these tours that we've had these last couple weeks people just come in and say they can't believe what we have in this room, the classroom and the studios and all that, and yeah you're responsible for building all that out and making it look nice. And I can't believe his interior design skills, which still amaze me with the way he is with colors and all that too.
Speaker 4:It's not just the building stuff it's because he's an artist.
Speaker 1:It's like, yeah, that's the artist coming out, that's right.
Speaker 5:Which, by the way, I still need new chairs in here, so maybe before you go, I still got a week, a day or two, but beyond that let's go with the artist thing.
Speaker 1:I never knew that you were an artist until a few years ago. How long have you been going on with the art thing, and now it's really taken off? Take us through that process.
Speaker 4:So I've been doing some kind of art for a long time. Most of my life I've been light art. I had a grandmother that it painted. She was a little self-taught artist and so, uh, I've always been around at my mama, she she's done a lot of artistic things as well, and so, um anyway. So I just a few years ago started really getting serious about showing stuff and, uh, some of the right people seen it and encouraged me to go certain routes. So it's an acquired taste, it's southern folk art, so it's but you've done stain, stained glass.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I still do some stained glass.
Speaker 4:So yeah, so mainly that's, it's staying. You know I do a lot of stained glass, not a lot of painting. So, uh, acrylic painting on plywood and stuff like that. So but, yeah, stained glass. You know, I still do some of it as well.
Speaker 1:Now explain folk art to me. I mean, I see some examples here.
Speaker 4:Folk art it's not like folk art, outsider art. It's kind of like a lot of untaught artists so you didn't get trained in any kind of schooling for it. You don't a lot of your art like fine art galleries it's kind of outside the realm of that. So a lot of your art like fine art galleries, it's kind of outside the realm of that. So a lot of times it's known as outsider art, sometimes a little different, a little more out there than you. You know you ain't painting apples on the table or nothing like that, right.
Speaker 1:I see a lot of it with the text.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I do a lot of text, I tell a lot of stories on mine. That's one of the things that makes mine a little unique is a lot of mine is like history or storytelling. So I just write a story on the front of the artwork so you can just read what I'm painting there.
Speaker 2:But you know, you've always been involved with storytelling. I mean, you're very involved with history, right? Yeah, I do a lot of history stuff.
Speaker 4:So a lot of that shows up in my artwork. So a lot of it will be historical stories or, you know, family stories or stuff like that. So it's a lot of storytelling in my artwork. I think that's why people like it a lot is they read those stories and, you know, trigger something in them and you're big into genealogy as well right.
Speaker 2:So your family history. You've done in the past some stuff with cemeteries and graveyards right what have you done there.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so I've done a lot with restoring monuments and installing new monuments for folks and all that good stuff, and so you know, spent a lot of time doing that in cemeteries fixing up broke monuments, stuff like that.
Speaker 1:He has some great stories and that kind of goes with the history and the genealogy.
Speaker 4:I think anybody in the genealogy spends way too much time in cemeteries, at least on this side of the grid.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you can save it for later. But the storytelling should we ask what's the best story you can tell us about your time here?
Speaker 4:Oh, I can't tell it on the radio.
Speaker 1:Those are the best ones. Those are the best ones. We're on the internet. It's only the school board that would give us the truth.
Speaker 4:I don't know there's so many good ones, I guess, when Holly's here, I think Lake Harold's a pretty good one.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 4:When Holly had a lake named after her. On Google.
Speaker 2:Maps, it's not really a lake On.
Speaker 4:Google Maps. Well yeah, it's a retention pond out in the front yard.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what it raised?
Speaker 4:It's not really a retention pond, it's a bioswale, it's a bioswale, and so I guess my favorite part of it was this kind of practical joke that, uh, she didn't know about for a long time but but somehow google got to calling at lake harrell and it became on the map and it got attached to the school's address, telephone number and all that. So people started sending mail here to lake harrell and and reviews and reviews, started reviewing lake harrell and started calling on the telephone. And then I think the best day of it was when a guy showed up smoking, which you ain't supposed to do on school property, and he walked right up to the front door with a cigarette and Holly seen him and ran out there because she was really upset about who in the world would smoke on school grounds, you know. And she went out there to fuss at him and he said well, he was just looking for the fishing lake. He came to fish, he had his riding reels with him and he was coming to check out beautiful Lake Harold.
Speaker 2:Needless to say, he turned around with his cigarette in hand and walked back to his car. I couldn't even say a thing to him, because I was just flabbergasted.
Speaker 4:That's right, and if you could have saw the look on Holly's face when she turned around and walked back in that front office, that was definitely wonderful.
Speaker 1:What about the look on his face? He was probably so disappointed. I know it. I know it. You think he's coming to a nice fishing hole.
Speaker 4:Yeah, all those wonderful pictures online. Yeah, there's great reviews online.
Speaker 2:Then it happened to be taken down accidentally, right? You don't think it?
Speaker 4:was no. I think there was a. I ain't going to call him out on that.
Speaker 1:No, we have audio of his confession. Oh, he's got a confession. When he came on the show.
Speaker 4:There's a fellow employee here that overstepped his bounds a little bit, Wait and Ruben Lake-Harrell. I mean it's gone now.
Speaker 2:He took it down. Who's he? His name's Seth. Don't worry about it. Seth Pruitt.
Speaker 4:Yeah, he teaches gaming, and that's all I got to say about it, and this is his home address.
Speaker 2:We kind of joked about it and I said somebody just needs to take that off of Google. And he said done.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean like literally within 10 seconds.
Speaker 4:So there went a I want a five-year run in practical joke down the tubes.
Speaker 1:Down the tubes. A lot of work going into that, yeah, you know how much work time we invest in everything.
Speaker 3:Company time for Lake.
Speaker 1:Herald yeah well as a matter of fact, justin, we have a message from Seth oh wow, let's hear it. Let's hear that right now.
Speaker 12:Hey, justin, it's Seth here. I just wanted to say it has been a great pleasure getting to know you over the last seven years that I've been teaching here, and thank you for your service. For the many years before I got here I've still got Andrew and Brian around to prank me, but I'm going to miss having a resident prankster around to prank everybody else.
Speaker 1:So he still didn't give you a direct confession. I think I need to apologize publicly he will miss you.
Speaker 4:I will miss him. I don't like him. I'm still mad at him. Yeah, there's a lot of people around that were you talked to Allison.
Speaker 1:My goodness. She wanted the audio right away when we got the confession after the waterboarding session. But there's a lot of things that happen around here that Justin's been involved in, some that are just hilarious.
Speaker 2:Most of them are hilarious.
Speaker 1:We could spend hours just talking about those, which is one of the reasons why Justin needs a podcast, and he and I have talked about this and I'd be happy to work with him. But this guy tells stories like nobody else and has so many things to tell stories about.
Speaker 2:Yes, I mean, you've got to have content right.
Speaker 1:He has a lot of things to tell stories about. But, speaking of Allison, she sent you a message too. Let's see what she had to say.
Speaker 17:Justin, you are my most favorite person, other than my family, in the world. You've always been there for me when I've needed you. You've been the one that got me started baking all my delicious red velvet cakes, which allowed me to get my Southern card. I hope to see you when you retire and I know you'll come back because somebody else has to tell Shannon Everhart that she needs her hair colored. I wish you the best and lots of love, wait.
Speaker 4:That's perfect balance.
Speaker 1:I told her. I said you left the crumpling up of the paper and throwing it in the tray. You left it in there. I said I'm going to leave it in there.
Speaker 4:Did y'all force her to do that, or something? Is that an angry at the end there.
Speaker 8:She forgot that she was still recording.
Speaker 4:Speaking of Shannon, another one of your lunch partners.
Speaker 1:That's right.
Speaker 4:I do let her know I ride behind her a lot going to lunch. She just gets gray hair at this one little round spot on the crown of the back of her head and so if she don't see it, she don't know. So I often tell her.
Speaker 1:You point it out, I point it out just to help her out.
Speaker 4:So now I need somebody else to do that and she'll run straight away to Allison's at the end of the day and get it done.
Speaker 1:Well, this is what she had to say, Justin, what can I say?
Speaker 10:It's been such a blessing being able to work with you all of these years and you are truly going to be missed. Don't forget, you have to come to lunch frequently. We sure will miss you, seeing you every day. I hope this is the blessing that you are looking for.
Speaker 1:Oh, that was so nice, and obviously she wants somebody to tell her when the gray is showing. That's right. Please come to lunch, Justin. Please come to lunch. One of the other things that you're involved in is this Ackin Milling Company. I heard a lot about your grits and they seem to be popping up at different restaurants in the area.
Speaker 2:Oh and stores, oh and stores, now too, yes, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:Tell us about how the grits thing got going.
Speaker 4:Well, I used to volunteer some at a grits meal a Haygood meal, a little bit years and years ago and making grits up there in Pickens and just kind of volunteer on saturday some. So I've always been interested in it. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for grits. We ate them every day most of my life. So, um, but anyway, my favorite grits was, uh, this guy out, uh, his name is randy king.
Speaker 4:He made woods, woods grits, woods, cornmeal grits, and so I bought his from years and anyway I heard he was going to close down his operation. He didn't really have nobody to pass it to. He was looking for somebody to buy it out and I caught wind of that and I was like, oh, my goodness, my grits are going away. That's my favorite grits in the world. What am I going to do? So within a matter of about 20 minutes I said you know what? I guess I'll. My goodness, my grits are going away. That's my favorite grits in the world. What am I going to do? So within a matter of about 20 minutes I said you know what? I guess I'll just go buy the grits mill and start making them myself.
Speaker 4:So I got his number, went and met with him and now I'm operating selling grits all over the place. I ship them all over and I sell them at my art shows. I go out of town on art shows and a lot of people buy them and send them as gifts. I'm mailing them out. I've got them in a lot of restaurants. All your markets, all your local markets, all over to upstate Greenville, greenville, to Abbeville, greenwood, honeypath. That's all over, happy Cow.
Speaker 2:And they're good. That's all over. Happy Cow, and they're good. They are good, very good See.
Speaker 1:I'm not a huge grits fan, but my wife Southern Girl grew up on it. She loves them.
Speaker 4:She loves them. Good for you yeah.
Speaker 1:So boy did that work out for you. Yeah. I mean getting a mill. Oh yeah, I mean you didn't have to just start from scratch with just making a batch of grits in a pot or something. You got a mill.
Speaker 4:That's right. So I grind them and bag them and sewed a little bag and do it all, so I label them. My mama, she actually puts the labels on them now, but I do everything else. Look, he's got an employee now, yeah, no, we don't got an employee, mama just helps just helped probably giving her minimum wage.
Speaker 8:That's right that's right, I get this out mom, that's right.
Speaker 4:That's right. I took some grits down the grits and groceries today.
Speaker 1:That's that's cool. Yeah, that's very cool. Uh, here's a message, not short, but it's from Brian Batcher, from our what do you call?
Speaker 2:it AP Computer Science.
Speaker 1:AP Computer Science now, because I know he's involved in the gaming too, and he does eSports as well. Right.
Speaker 13:Let's see what he had to say. Hey, justin, it's Brian Batcher here. The editor tells me I only have 30 seconds to record and that's just not going to be possible. I was thinking about what I wanted to say. I thought you know I'll do, I'll try to do something other people haven't done. So I was going to tell you maybe a dad joke about retired people. Unfortunately they won't work. So then I thought, well, I could tease you about how you'll have to wait longer to get your senior citizens discount than me. But then I realized you're probably okay with that.
Speaker 13:So I thought well, I could just do the teacher thing and say have fun in your future endeavors and stop by any time to visit, but then you'd probably show up at like 6 o'clock tomorrow morning. And then I realized all I really needed to say is how much I appreciate what you've done to help make this place a great place to work the long hours, the entertainment, the hard work, the entertainment, the pranks. Of course you will be missed and I hope it's not long before I see you again.
Speaker 1:All right, that was nice, everybody. It's going to be a common theme that you hear the pranks.
Speaker 4:I don't understand that.
Speaker 2:And the entertainment.
Speaker 4:I didn't do no work around here.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean, right now you guys are building a float Of Christmas tree cakes.
Speaker 2:I know so I mean come on, Things we do around here.
Speaker 1:And now I'm thinking, holly, that you chose that theme for the parade on purpose, because of this guy, because of Justin.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, that's exactly what we do, because whenever it was Secret.
Speaker 1:Santa or whatever. Everybody would always give Justin the Christmas dress.
Speaker 2:That's right. That's our hurrah. Last hurrah, right there.
Speaker 1:That was sweet of you and he uh, unfortunately there's a mole in the building and he got word that there's 33 boxes of christmas tree cakes in your office.
Speaker 4:32 now, holly got me christmas tree cake, ice cream one time I did was it good wonderful I had to be super sweet. I ate the whole carton in one sitting.
Speaker 1:It was super sweet, all right. So there's also involved here folks a live music place venue that Justin has started. Tell us about that.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so it's the Fiddle and Bow Music Hall and Southern Folk Art Gallery, so it's a cool venue. It's got artwork from floor to ceiling and it's all over the walls. It's just covered in folk art and have concerts regular. And the cool thing about it is in Honeypath on Main Street. The really cool thing about it is the caliber of talent that we have.
Speaker 4:We just passed Saturday night had one of the biggest groups in bluegrass music had the Poe Ramblin' Boys, which are super famous in the bluegrass world. They play on the Grand Ole Opry a lot and just an awesome band just had an awesome energy about them and just had a lot of fun Saturday night. So we've had number one songwriters, grammy Award winners, a lot of folks playing on the Grand Ole Opry player. We actually had a couple concerts this summer that they played on the Grand Ole Opry Friday night and played at the Fiddlin' Bull on Saturday night. That's cool. Yeah, had that two shows in a row. So that was kind of cool, super, super talented.
Speaker 4:And we also have local folks. That's kind of cool, super, super talented. We also have local folks. Every Tuesday night we have a free bluegrass jam where you can bring your instrument and just sit around and jam. It starts at 6 o'clock on Tuesday nights and it's all free. You can check us out on Facebook. We've got a website, philandbomusichallcom, and see who all is coming. We've got some cool stuff coming up. We've got a show this Friday night. We've got a show next Saturday night, nice.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I haven't been there yet. I've got to get there. But we're talking about an intimate venue. Yes, so it's like you're right on top of the music. Oh, right on top.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, max people is 115. It's max people's 115, and so the farthest seat away is about 35, 40 foot, so you'll enjoy it if you ever come. If you love live music, it's a great place. It's got a great sound to the building. All the artists love it. They interact with the crowd a lot because they're basically right there in the crowd with you, so they always have have a good time and the bands just seem to absolutely love it and it just makes for a good evening.
Speaker 2:So and it's right there in honey a path. So he lives right there, yeah yeah, so it's cool.
Speaker 4:You know like I have a big tour bus sitting on main street, so yeah boy, you're gonna be bringing more business cannot make development.
Speaker 2:Yeah, starting more restaurants around there, because they got to be there.
Speaker 1:More business to the money. You can all make development.
Speaker 2:That's right.
Speaker 4:They're going to be starting more restaurants around there, because they've got to be there for show night.
Speaker 1:That's right, my mama cooks meals for them all when they come.
Speaker 4:We have a big meal with the artists.
Speaker 1:And what did that place used to be?
Speaker 4:It had only been a grocery store. It was Bannister's Grocery, and I was about 100 years old and they closed. Baxter Grocery closed about 50 years ago and the building had sat empty for 50 years. Wow, so yeah.
Speaker 1:Very cool Fiddle and bow. We'll have to check that out. I'm going to play a few more tributes for you. All right, we're just going to jam through. We've got a bunch still to get through, justin.
Speaker 4:For some reason, people either feel afraid of you, that they need to say something or apologize or something, or you're just that popular.
Speaker 1:So, uh, let's, let's go through some of these gosh.
Speaker 16:Justin, you are part of the fabric that is actc. Your presence will be missed dearly around here. From the pranks to the beautiful campus and everything in between, you have just truly made working at the Career and Technology Center pure joy. Wish you and your family all the best.
Speaker 8:So Justin is a fantastic individual and has always been a bright spot at school. I wanted to share that he has a great collection of Jose Acaba artwork. Jose was a local artist that Justin became friends with and at a recent retrospective of the artist's work at the Belton Center for the Arts, justin loaned many of his pieces to the Center for Display. If you get a chance, you should ask Justin about how he and the artist became friends. I'll miss you, justin, and I wish you all the best.
Speaker 18:Hey, this is Michael Guest, the firefighting instructor for ACTC. I'd like to give a shout out for Justin Atkin. Justin has been the backbone of ACTC since I've been here, or the funny bone, whichever one you might say. Justin's always super supportive here at school and does anything you ask him to, super supportive of his community. He's showing of opening up his theater show there in Honeypath. Overall, great guy.
Speaker 14:Justin is my work son. We both started our careers at ACTC in 2000. Justin was just 17 years old when we first met. He is truly one of my favorite humans. He has accused me of trying to be just like him, and maybe I am. We both enjoy bluegrass music, folk art, kayaking and good pranks. When he went through the long curly hair stage, so did I. So yes, Justin, I do want to be just like you. And I will continue to do fiddle and bow, folk art festivals and order your grits. I love you.
Speaker 1:That's Jenny Gilbert, who's the head of business around here, and uh, yeah, she's known you from the beginning and we all remember that.
Speaker 2:The long curly hair when he looked like uh, janitor jesus or willie from duck dynasty.
Speaker 1:That was the other guy I thought he looked like, or the best one the kids used to.
Speaker 4:Uh, there was a movie. I never seen the movie, but I looked up balls of fury. So, uh, there's a movie. I'd never seen the movie, but I looked it up, balls of Fury. So there's a guy on Balls of Fury that they would call me whatever his name was, I don't know Google Harold over there, we'll find that. So she'll get a good laugh out of this.
Speaker 1:A couple notes on the other Tell us about how you met that artist, that Mr Seeley. He's got an art degree and is the head of the film uh department here, so he is a big into art. Oh, wait a minute, we have the picture. And what was the name of the character? Um, oh goodness, let's see who that character.
Speaker 4:But when that movie was popular about 15 years ago. That's all I heard for about three months. Balls of Fury Balls of Fury.
Speaker 2:Never heard of it. His name is Well, come on, tell me.
Speaker 4:See, I can take a good joke too. You know the kids.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, for sure Kids have been rough on me over the years.
Speaker 4:Yeah, kids are very rough.
Speaker 2:Randy Daytona. So his name was Dan Fogler, but Randy Daytona was the main character in the sports comedy.
Speaker 4:Good looking guy, by the way. Oh, of course he got sideburns long curly hair yeah.
Speaker 1:So how'd you know that artist so?
Speaker 4:Jose passed away, shoot, probably about a year ago, but he was a great artist. He was originally from New York. He is of Puerto Rican descent and he moved down here a little later in life. He was a New York detective and he was a great artist and a real popular artist around here. We'd done a lot of little art projects together. We'd met through the Belton Art Center and just become fast friends. He was a super guy. He'd come over to eat a lot and spend a lot of time with us. He actually done the big town mural in Honeypath. So we'd go to Honeypath, go by the commercial bank. There's a big mural and that's Jose's work. But he'd get me in harebrained ideas.
Speaker 4:We went to this one house one day. He picked me up and said come here, I need your help. And I said okay. He said I've been commissioned to paint. That was out off 25, near the trash dump, greenville County. There was this house and they had this big old rock with Jesus painted on it and so he had been commissioned to repaint it. And so Jose was a little different now. He didn't do everything the way everybody else did, so he had done this kind of like Van Gogh-looking Jesus on these rocks and he wanted me to mount the rocks on top of the other rocks. So we get to the house. There ain't nobody there, so it's me and this 90-year-old man, and we're looking at it and a dog attacks both of us I know.
Speaker 4:And so we run to the car. He's got me by the ankle. He bit Jose on the butt. He's got me on the ankle. And so we run into the car. We get back in the car and he says well, I just don't guess I need to mess with Jesus. And he just left all his artwork at my house and never did come back and get it, so I was able to just play those rocks at Belton Art Center with Jesus' face and hands.
Speaker 4:But yeah, no, he was a great guy and he's a super artist that was here and very popular in the local area Wow.
Speaker 1:Let's play a few more. Let's see. I'll just select. Are we saving yours, Holly?
Speaker 2:You can play it, we can play it and get it out of the way. You know, mine's not one.
Speaker 1:No, it's, it's, it's. It'll probably take up the rest of the show. So, let's, let's go.
Speaker 15:So my tribute is probably going to be a little more serious than others, but I just want to say thank you, justin. My son has worked for you for the last few years as a summer intern for the career center and you have impacted him in a great way, and he has oftentimes said to me Justin is just such a good boss. And he has oftentimes said to me Justin is just such a good boss and he's so good at his job and he's just been super impressed at how you do your job. So thank you for impacting my son and ACTC as a whole.
Speaker 7:You'll be missed. Thank you, Justin, for all you did for us in the law enforcement class. Thank you for what you did for the school. Thank you for always having a smile on your face or at least being in a good mood. I don't think I've ever seen you in a bad mood. Maybe that's a good thing. But anyway, we appreciate you, Justin, and wish you the best of luck. Hope you enjoy your next adventure and look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood.
Speaker 2:Justin, I am filled with gratitude, pride and a touch of sadness as you prepare to step into the next chapter of your life. Reflecting on these past 20 years, you've always stood out, someone who has been so much more than a colleague. You have been a teacher, a mentor, a confidant and, most importantly, a dear friend. Working alongside you has been one of the greatest choice of my career. You have taught me so many things Lessons in faith, the beauty of diversity and the power of music, art, family and grits, and how all of these can unite and intertwined with humor. But more than anything else, you've taught me kindness, kindness that goes beyond words into actions and the way you approach life.
Speaker 2:I will always, forever, cherish the memories of your practical jokes and the ones that kept us going and reminded us not to take life too seriously. From Elvis appearances to Santa and his elf spreading cheer, you brought joy and lightness to our days that no one else could and no one else could forget. Like Harold, what makes you so remarkable is not what you've done, but how you've done it. You've changed lives every single day, all behind the scenes, with humility and grace. Your impact is immeasurable, not because you sought recognition, but because you saw the best in others and helped bring it to life. It's hard to imagine life without your presence daily, but I know that your influence will continue to inspire me and so many others. Congratulations, justin, and I look forward to what you do in the future.
Speaker 1:I don't know what Holly was wrestling in there. It didn't show up on anybody else's recording.
Speaker 4:That's the nicest thing I think I've ever heard in my life.
Speaker 2:Really, yes, well, I mean every bit of it, justin, that was super nice that was really nice, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1:That means a lot. Yeah, well, it's not bad. No, it's not bad, but tell us about the reason for right now retiring, because obviously you're young.
Speaker 4:Oh, I would have done it 10 years ago if I could have. But, why not? I got a wonderful job. I love my job. I just like to be free man. I just you know. I got a lot of things I enjoy doing and, like I say, if I could work one day a week for the rest of my life, you know, that'd be all right.
Speaker 1:You've been doing more than that. I haven't seen you at all.
Speaker 4:But no, I just, you know, got my days, got my years there and ready to do whatever, so I've been somewhere. You know I've been here a long time, so I'm kind of doing everything, I guess, backwards. I didn't do whatever, so I've been somewhere. You know I've been here a long time, so I'm kind of doing everything, I guess, backwards. I didn't do that. I started right out of high school, didn't do anything different, and so I've been here a long time and just read, you know, just to do other things, I guess.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so all those years you could have been out there sowing your wild oats.
Speaker 4:Yeah, we're going to sow we. So all those years you could have been out there sowing your wild oats. Yeah, we go slow.
Speaker 1:We'll do it now In your 20s and all that Now you're going out there and trying everything, trying your hand at everything. There, you go and doing some different things and a lot of different things that you're talented at doing. All right, here's some more. Hey, Justin.
Speaker 19:Thank you for all that you've done over the years here at ACTC. It would not be the same without you. We're all going to miss you. Good luck in whatever you decide to do next.
Speaker 11:Justin, I might just hold the record for making you retrofit the most classrooms at ACTC. Every time I move, you and your team outdid yourselves and you keep our school looking great. And who could forget the shenanigans you brought every Christmas season? You've kept this place running smoothly and you've made it a lot more fun along the way. Enjoy your retirement. You've more than earned it.
Speaker 5:It's Melissa. Thank you so much for all of your help the last couple of years but, most importantly, for your friendship. I knew we would be friends from the moment Luke brought home the firefighting novel you Got Me for Christmas. We we would be friends from the moment Luke brought home the firefighting novel you got me for Christmas. We will all miss you, but we are all so happy for you and your family. We love you and make sure you come back and visit.
Speaker 1:Firefighting novel.
Speaker 4:That was the first time I knew Luke took it home and gave it to her as a present. That was Luke's novel. That was not. I don't know what his motive was, but that's funny. Just FYI, justin, that was not her novel.
Speaker 1:I don't know what his motive was behind that?
Speaker 2:That's funny. Just FYI, justin gave everybody a Christmas present and it was one of those from a thrift store, so you can think of what he gave people.
Speaker 4:But it related thereby.
Speaker 2:It did. It was very thoughtful, it took a lot of time to find all that it did and he got a novel and he went through the novel.
Speaker 4:It was a risque novel by the firefighter and he took out and put Luke's name on every single page.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh Luke being Melissa's, every time it said firefighter whatever his name was Steve.
Speaker 4:I took it out, scratched it out and wrote Luke Riddle, Luke Riddle. So it took like it took hours of my life, I don't know how many hours of my life. And then I pasted Luke's little face on the shirtless body on the cover, and so it was a very, very bad novel about Luke Riddle. I do not know why he took it home to Melissa and gave it to her again.
Speaker 1:That was not the intention, melissa, but most of the shenanigans around here were usually around two different times of year, the Christmas time obviously the biggest. And I shouldn't even say shenanigans, because the second one, usually the teacher appreciation week was made amazing by what these guys built, because they were so bored that they had to build big sets for these events. But what was?
Speaker 4:your favorite Holly's a lot of times behind those teacher shenanigans. She just don't come out and get the credit for it. That's true.
Speaker 1:She'll retire soon and we'll do her show. She stirs the pot a lot. I stir it a little bit, but Justin's my execut it. That's true. She'll retire soon and we'll do her show. I may stir a little bit she stirs the pot a lot.
Speaker 2:I stir it a little bit, but Justin's my executor, that's right, but he can do it all.
Speaker 4:Because she says I can't say this, but you can and get by with it.
Speaker 1:But what's your favorite? And there's a lot of them, but what's your favorite story around Christmas time?
Speaker 4:Christmas time? Oh, definitely.
Speaker 7:When Holly had to get up out of bed and come to the Williamston Police.
Speaker 2:Department at 10.30 at night to get Santa Claus.
Speaker 2:So I got a phone call at 10.30 at night saying that the school has been broken into. And I'm like, oh my gosh, they go, we've apprehended people. They say that they're the Santa and Elf, and I'm like it justin and kale, who, kale, used to work for us, of course. And uh, the police officer kind of said we're gonna lock them up. That's not what the names they gave us. We're gonna lock them up if you don't come down here and get them. So I'm like just lock them up and hang my phone up and then the names they gave us and I thought thought gosh, what did he say?
Speaker 4:He, thought they were the Longfellow brothers. Yes, that's what it was, it's the Longfellows.
Speaker 2:That's exactly it. And so I kind of went back to sleep and then I'm like, well, what if it's Justin and KSY? So I turn out Robbie's there sleeping and I'm like should I go get him? He goes, just get up and let's go get him. And I'm like I got this. He's like you're not going at 10 o'clock at night, 1030 at night, going to school. And I'm like I'm going to the police department, it's okay. So I get up, throw some leggings on, go down the police department. In the meantime I call Justin's wife, sarah, and I'm like does this have anything to do with Justin? And she is like dead silent and I'm like it's got to have something to do. It's got to. I got to, she didn't say anything. I go all the way down to the police department and he's outside and he's like they're in here and I walk in and literally Justin and Kale are dressed up as Santa.
Speaker 4:Except I couldn't find my Santa pants that year, so I was in insulated underwear.
Speaker 2:You know the Long John underwear. He had the red coat, the hat and Long Johns. Needless to say, the two of them were released to me and they were, so we'd start leaving. I'm like you two come with me. And they're like, no, our car's right over here, right after we leave the police department. And I'm like, oh, no, no, no, Y'all are getting in my car. Oh, she was hot Because we're going to have a discussion and they're like no, no, no, really our car's right there and I'm like no, no, no, no.
Speaker 4:Y'all are getting in my car, See I almost didn't get to retire.
Speaker 2:I almost got fired that night, See that was the day before KO left. It was. He had one day he didn't care.
Speaker 4:Last hurrah. Oh yeah, she didn't like getting up out of bed at 1030 at night to come get Santa Claus. What 30 minutes away.
Speaker 1:Yeah 30 minutes.
Speaker 4:Santa Claus out of jail.
Speaker 1:She didn't appreciate it. But the coolest thing, folks, was this was all caught on the surveillance cameras here at the school and they showed it back to us. And it was so funny to see Justin and Cale being chased around by the police and trying to hide.
Speaker 2:It was hysterical, needless to say that was rough.
Speaker 4:I took injuries that night. I had the handcuff prints on my wrist.
Speaker 1:He deserved that he deserved that, oh my gosh, it was always something, especially around Christmas.
Speaker 2:Yep, yep and if he could pull something off or teach your appreciation and expand on something. He would absolutely do it. Don't you remember that we did Around the World? Oh yeah, and he comes out. On that first day we had everybody having breakfast and he comes out like a—. British accent as like a traveling salesman selling Lake Herald t-shirts. That's right. Made good money that day.
Speaker 4:I still have one of those, I know it, you still see them around. They're vintage now. Yeah, lake Herald, beautiful Lake Herald, those were nice shirts. You don't know what you miss until it's gone. Ain't that right, Seth?
Speaker 2:That's right.
Speaker 1:Still bitter, still bitter. Okay, here's a couple more.
Speaker 20:Hey, Justin, it's Stacey here. I certainly wanted to thank you for all that you have done for our school, our students and me personally. A special thanks for keeping Holly busy with construction projects so she's not in my hair and yelling at me on a daily basis. I also wanted to thank you for moving our spin bikes around this campus about 52 times in the last four years. We're going to miss you, Justin.
Speaker 6:Take care and best wishes, road real bikes. One of my earliest memories of Justin was during our kitchen renovation in 2012. And I was in the old copy room, heard the fire alarm go off and saw him sprinting by to come see what was wrong down in our kitchen. It was a funny sight to see, but I always appreciated the work that Justin did. He was very humble, very kind, very generous, always willing to help out. He's an all-around great, great guy and we're going to miss him.
Speaker 1:Of course that was Chris the chef. There were many times you were running down the culinary uh over the course that I've been here at the time that I've been here what was that particular time that he was saying it was quite a sight to see and it's stuck in his mind I don't know. I don't know which time that was.
Speaker 4:My weight fluctuates up and down, so it's probably one of the fat years and, uh, fat maintenance guy running down the hall is probably always a comical scene to see.
Speaker 1:Oh, man, and of course you were mentioning something about Stacy and the bikes.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, it would have been a lot easier if they just had real bikes. They could have rode them all over yeah exactly All over the campus, instead of us having to pick up them 200-pound things and move them every week.
Speaker 8:Of course, a lot of classrooms.
Speaker 4:They move more than Brian McLean's a move-em every week. Of course, a lot of classrooms, they move more than Brian McLean.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was going to say A lot of classrooms have been moved around. You heard Brian reference that. Did you think sometimes that Holly was doing that on purpose?
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, Just to keep you busy.
Speaker 1:Because I haven't understood. Some people like Brian get moved every year.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, why? What did he do? I think if we get idle hands, it's like we find ways to aggravate ourselves.
Speaker 1:I just like that. We have all this stuff here that we really can't be moved unless it's a really big deal.
Speaker 4:Oh, don't say that that is not true. What that we can't be moved no.
Speaker 2:Well, that's true too, but no, because it's a better spot. And you agree, every time we go to move things and change things.
Speaker 1:Why didn't you put them there to begin with? Had we thought about it, we would have we would have, and then the next year is another better spot. That's right. Well, sometimes, if you guys only knew how much work they do around here and how good that work is. It's amazing.
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 1:But we've got a couple more. I'm going to play for you in a minute, but before that, obviously we'd be remiss if we didn't bring up what's probably the top reason why you're retiring at this age and you've got a family now and you're raising some kids and they take some time. Now, during this whole course of the time that you've been here, you didn't have kids, most of that time.
Speaker 2:Well, I wasn't married at first. Well, at first, I hope not At 17, boy you don't married at first.
Speaker 4:Well, at first. I hope not At 17. Boy, you don't want to get locked up like that. And then Sarah came in. Yeah, how long have you been married? I've been married 18 years, okay.
Speaker 1:So most of that time, oh yeah, a lot of it, a lot of it. And we all know if you've listened to the show before. He's told us the stories of how he wooed.
Speaker 6:Sarah.
Speaker 1:We don't need to hear all that again, especially before dinner, but the kids tell us a little bit of the story, as much as you want to, about how they came into your life and how that's affecting your life and who they are who they are and moving forward.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so we've got three little ones.
Speaker 4:We've got Skari, who's two, Faison, who's four, and Aliyah, who is eight, yes, and so eight years old, and so usually they keep me super busy so we have a lot of fun. So they've been with us for about the last. Well, I was with my mother first and for a couple months, but with our family for a little over two years now. So, yeah, so we a lot of changes when you're 40 and you have a well, at the time you know, a little small baby, so, but you know, you now got two four and eight-year-olds, just kind of bam all at once.
Speaker 2:And not only do you have that, you have Desiree as well.
Speaker 4:Yep, yep, desiree, she's grown now.
Speaker 2:But you got her early on.
Speaker 4:Yep, she was there with us since she was a teenager and then we had some foster children over the years. So yeah, there's always been children around at some time.
Speaker 2:Justin and Sarah's house have always been welcoming to children. It doesn't matter who you are, and sometimes you keep them.
Speaker 1:That's right. Really, can I send some over there? No, I'm just kidding. Mine are getting up there in age now.
Speaker 4:We're moving calls, though we have to get new bedrooms.
Speaker 1:Yeah, still staying in the same general area.
Speaker 4:You can see one backyard from the other.
Speaker 1:There you go, literally around the corner, same general area. So yeah, oh, that's good, that's good, that would be nice. Are you building your own place?
Speaker 4:No, I thought you'd be doing that no, just got us another old house, all right, a few more bedrooms. A few more bedrooms. Yeah, bedroom that's. Uh, we just had to find a house, four bedrooms, so we went and looked at one place in 30 minutes like yeah, that's it.
Speaker 1:Why complicate the? Yes, that's right, that's right, but um, obviously, with the kids getting older, they're going to be getting involved in a lot of different yeah, yeah they already playing ball, they play softball and basketball.
Speaker 4:So so, yeah, fix the start basketball up, and they too. So they like to draw and they're a very active, rambunctious bunch. They watch way too much gun smoke so they like to shoot you with a gun and hit you with a bottle and stuff like that. Wow, that sounds like fun.
Speaker 1:We have WrestleMania every evening.
Speaker 4:yeah, so they're very good wrestlers.
Speaker 2:Two little boys, I'm sure.
Speaker 4:Yeah, Sarah's got three boys now Wow. How fun.
Speaker 1:So how'd your wife take all this? I mean, obviously she's in on you making the decision. Oh yeah, it's not like you just dropped it on her. She was the main corporator.
Speaker 4:You need to retire now. Oh yeah, yeah, it's not like you, just dropped it on her.
Speaker 1:She was the main corporator, was she? You need to retire?
Speaker 4:now, oh yeah yeah. Yeah she was nice, she's happy about it, so she's excited, you know.
Speaker 1:Now is she still working. Oh, yeah, yeah she said she wouldn't.
Speaker 4:She's going to keep working. Somebody's got to make money.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you only have three different businesses going once. Alright, now here's our last batch of I guess we only got a couple left of Justin Akin tributes for you tonight.
Speaker 19:Justin, I'm going to miss you. Man, I really appreciate all the time you've taken over the years to collaborate not just with me but with the students and really make me and them feel involved on the campus, helping us get done what we've got to get done in the best way possible, always with a smile on your face. Best of luck in your next adventure. Justin Jules, here Got a little surprise for you.
Speaker 6:Hey, justin, it's your biggest fan, Brad, Just wanted to wish you a great retirement man. Best of luck to you, brother.
Speaker 9:The Voiles fam loves you. I can't think of a favorite memory other than you just obsessing over my husband. So thanks for that. We'll love you forever. Miss you and best of luck to you, Congrats.
Speaker 4:Happy for you and the fam.
Speaker 2:I feel like I need to explain, oh my gosh, that was the best tribute ever Ever.
Speaker 4:So her husband is a very famous baseball player who big baseball fan, and so he was always my favorite baseball player. Stop it and so look him up. Brad Volz played for the Kansas. City. Royals, yep, and so just a big fan of him. And that just made my day. I just can't believe. My favorite baseball professional baseball player called me and wished me a happy retirement.
Speaker 1:You have that forever. You can play it every day.
Speaker 4:I've also got an autographed cup that he had Wait what kind of cup?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so did you not remember? Were you not at the baby shower?
Speaker 4:Was you not at the baby?
Speaker 2:shower.
Speaker 1:What was that? When he had his jersey?
Speaker 2:So the school threw Julia and Brad a baby shower when Sweet Dylan was just before Dylan was born and Justin ended up coming because he knew Brad was going to be there. That's right, and he has some stuff for Brad to sign.
Speaker 4:Had a baseball bat and I asked him to write on there how many hits he had in his major league career. So I've got one that says Brad Foles, zero MLB hits. And I had a baseball cards and a jersey. I had a game-worn jersey that even Julia didn't own one of those, so I actually had two of them in my collection, in my personal collection. And then I had a cup so he autographed it, you know what he's talking about.
Speaker 13:Did he have any?
Speaker 1:message for you on the cup.
Speaker 2:You know it wasn't a cup.
Speaker 1:It was a job strap cup. What did it say?
Speaker 4:I think he said this is nuts Brad Bull, Is that it say?
Speaker 1:I think he said this is nuts Brad Bull, is that it?
Speaker 4:That's the only cup he's ever autographed.
Speaker 1:I bet so I got a one-of-a-kind member video there. How much that would go for, I don't know.
Speaker 4:We'll put it on eBay.
Speaker 1:Check that out, but that's an amazing story, folks. You've got to see the obsessions. He went through a book and took out a name every time it was mentioned, do you?
Speaker 4:know how hard it was to find a Brad Valls jersey. This is the next thing.
Speaker 1:He found a Brad Valls jersey that his wife couldn't even find. That's right, that's right. And now he has a message from her Not one, but two of them. Are there any more? I don't know.
Speaker 4:That's the question I think he played three games, so there might be another one. He was a pitcher right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he played for a few years for Kansas City Royals. He did, he was a pitcher.
Speaker 4:So that explains the whole hitting situation.
Speaker 1:Right, they don't hit a lot Now.
Speaker 4:They don't at all, but it's still pretty cool to have a bat that says zero, mlb.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes indeed, and somebody was hearing me putting these together today and saying who was that? And I said he was in the major leagues.
Speaker 4:I even went back and I studied like game transcripts from where he played.
Speaker 1:See what I mean. And I actually like reminisced, so you can be prepared for that conversation.
Speaker 4:Yes, I reminisce. I was like you remember, back in January, the 18th 2003, when you were pitching against so-and-so True. I think he was really shocked at first. I think he didn't know what to think about it.
Speaker 2:And sometimes you don't know if Justin is serious.
Speaker 4:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:Did he really follow him? Or maybe he just did a little research before and acts like it? You just never know with Justin.
Speaker 1:I wish I would have been there for that conversation, because that's just awesome.
Speaker 2:It was classic.
Speaker 1:Brad's got to feel good too, knowing that you're his number one fan, that's right. But glad that he could chime in there. I had to save that one for last.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, especially.
Speaker 1:So we're just about to wrap up the show. Yeah. And that's how quickly an hour goes, and we probably could have gone a lot more. There were others that were sorry they couldn't record something for you, but I know you're going to be missed by everybody here.
Speaker 2:And there's so many stories and we call them Justin stories there. And there's so many stories and we call them justin stories. There's so so many of them you forget them over the years, especially after being here. How many?
Speaker 2:20 20, yeah, so 2000, so yeah almost 25 years 25 years, so, over 25 years and it's funny because we've seen we've seen him grow from a teenager literally a teenager into an adult, full-grown adult With children and a wife, and the progression of what he's done over his life and the things that he has done Holly was grown when she came here.
Speaker 4:I come here as a teenager. Holly was.
Speaker 2:I was 28. She was a grown woman.
Speaker 4:Man, you've been here forever too.
Speaker 1:So, well, you both came about the same time yeah, we're right about the same age, yeah no, first part, yes, second part. But, justin, I'll be honest with you, I haven't met too many people in the world that are like you, and that's that's a compliment, because you're so talented. Hey, madeline, if I well up here, just know that I was crying when JJ died on Outer Banks.
Speaker 3:I haven't even watched it and I'm not going to watch it. Oh crap, but you knew it happened. I've seen it. I'm not going to watch it, I refuse.
Speaker 1:But anyway, I haven't met too many people like you. I mean, you're so easy to talk to, you help everybody Really talented in many different ways that make you happy in life. You're getting to do a lot of things that make you happy in life and a lot of people don't get that opportunity and what you've done here is just a flat out legacy. When you look around and see what you've done here and you're really going to be missed. And I love Michael to death and he was my favorite of your men because whenever I needed something I'm like please put Michael on it, so I'm glad and he's going to be great taking over. But when I heard the news I was shocked and I was like what am I going to do without having Justin there, even though I don't get to talk to you that much, but it's just he's kind of like. You know, it's like having one of those therapy dogs or something.
Speaker 1:It's like if he's there to support you, you know he's going to give you some good support and you're really going to be missed. I mean, to me it's a big part of this place that is going to miss your personality and your talents. But we know you're not far and that we can invite you back on the show. You still owe me another Valentine's show with you and Sarah, which we couldn't do last year. Another Valentine's show with you and Sarah, which we couldn't do last year. So we'll definitely have you back and we'll look forward to that and I'm glad you're not going far away and we will be able to go someplace and have your grits and go someplace and see your art and go someplace and hear the music. I mean this is great, all the different things that you've brought to other people. So I'm going to miss you and you've really meant a lot to me probably more than you know over these 14 years that I've been here.
Speaker 4:Thank you, that means a lot.
Speaker 2:You have touched every inch of this building and the building next to it and the building next to it and every building we've built since. So you're here. You may not physically be here, but you're here.
Speaker 1:It was that last building that took him out, though, wasn't it?
Speaker 2:Well, you know you would have thought the last building, he would have stayed longer, but enjoy it right, I did thought she had a built-mill building a lot longer ago.
Speaker 1:But then when she says, okay, now we're building a barn out there, you're like I'm out of here. She did build me a super nice place to work.
Speaker 4:That was a very nice building. Yeah, that's why I don't see him anymore.
Speaker 1:He's way over there, I know it. He used to cut through my classroom all the time, which was great. I think I was the reason why he sent out those emails, don't? Bother us when we're walking the hallways, send us an email instead, and I'm like I bothered him every time.
Speaker 2:So, holly, final words? Yeah, I don't have final words, cause this is not goodbye.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, so long.
Speaker 2:And I said my little tribute. I'm not going to get into that Cause I will tear up and I don't tear it and I don't want you pounding things in here like you were in my office when you recorded that, but Madeline as a student and someone who's grown up around Justin for your entire life. It has been.
Speaker 1:Do you have something you want to say?
Speaker 2:Hang on, oh my goodness, you can see she's not. She doesn't sound like me, does she?
Speaker 3:As my first and best boss oh. I had a great time working with you. I really didn't think that I would enjoy it as much as I did, but working for you, you just made my day. You were so helpful. I remember that day, um, with the pressure washer what.
Speaker 2:We'll have to tell you about that. It was something.
Speaker 3:You're just such a nice person. You can tell that everyone in this building cares about you, and I'm going to miss you, even though I don't work with you, but I'm still going to miss seeing you around.
Speaker 4:Thank you so much. That means a lot.
Speaker 1:All right, are you going to grow the hair back? I doubt it Okay.
Speaker 4:I don't think it'll grow back.
Speaker 1:Thank you, justin, thanks for everything, thank those of you that were able to tune in. This will be up as a podcast on Spotify and Apple and Google. So tell all your friends, justin, that they can tune in so we can get a lot of followers, because if Justin tells his friends, you know, we're connecting here because look at all these businesses he has.
Speaker 2:That's right, everybody knows, justin.
Speaker 1:But thank you, we love doing this and the people that. Thank you, everybody who sent in the little tributes, for taking the time to do that. Thank you to everybody who sent in the little tributes for taking the time to do that and, as Madeline said, you can tell that everybody really cares about it. We're all rooting for you in the future and, as you were there for us, we're here for you as well as you move on. So good luck and have a good time out there, thank you.
Speaker 1:And thank you everybody for listening to the Boone Show on MyPulse Radio.