Larry the Area Host...
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- Gulf Coaster
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:32 pm
- Location: San Jose, California
- Contact:
Larry the Area Host...
Last week I was having lunch at the local Burger King and I saw a face that I had not seen in years. It was Larry, an Area Host that I remembered working with back in 1983. If you recall, an Area Host was a glorified name for the park sweepers that kept MGA beautiful and shinning.
Larry was an easy guy to remember.
While most sweepers at the time were young high school students, Larry was already an adult with a quiet energy and a passion for his work. While I tended to my Amazing Alfredo duties, I would often see Larry with his broom and dust catcher impeccably cleaning his assigned area. I would often say hello to Larry and he would just smile back and get back to work. Later I found out that Larry was mentally handicapped but was self sufficient enough to get himself to work everyday (by several county buses I later learned) and he was able to follow simple directions that allowed him to do his job….wonderfully, I might add. Someone told me that he had been employed by Marriott’s since the park opened in 1976. At that time there were a few people that worked continuously since that park opened, but they were mostly managers and supervisors. Larry simply was happy keeping the park cleaned for the thousands of guests that enjoyed it each year.
When I saw Larry at Burger King I approached him on the way out and re-introduced myself to him. He looked up and smiled like he remembered working with me. As we shared a couple of minutes at the restaurant, Larry told with that after 29 years, he still works at Great America. They are no longer called Area Hosts, but now “Ecologists” Larry said that the park has changed a lot through out the years, but he still loves getting on the bus and heading out to his favorite place to work, Great America.
So many things have changed at my once favorite place, but it is very refreshing to know that one has remained the same; Larry the Area Host.
Mat
Larry was an easy guy to remember.
While most sweepers at the time were young high school students, Larry was already an adult with a quiet energy and a passion for his work. While I tended to my Amazing Alfredo duties, I would often see Larry with his broom and dust catcher impeccably cleaning his assigned area. I would often say hello to Larry and he would just smile back and get back to work. Later I found out that Larry was mentally handicapped but was self sufficient enough to get himself to work everyday (by several county buses I later learned) and he was able to follow simple directions that allowed him to do his job….wonderfully, I might add. Someone told me that he had been employed by Marriott’s since the park opened in 1976. At that time there were a few people that worked continuously since that park opened, but they were mostly managers and supervisors. Larry simply was happy keeping the park cleaned for the thousands of guests that enjoyed it each year.
When I saw Larry at Burger King I approached him on the way out and re-introduced myself to him. He looked up and smiled like he remembered working with me. As we shared a couple of minutes at the restaurant, Larry told with that after 29 years, he still works at Great America. They are no longer called Area Hosts, but now “Ecologists” Larry said that the park has changed a lot through out the years, but he still loves getting on the bus and heading out to his favorite place to work, Great America.
So many things have changed at my once favorite place, but it is very refreshing to know that one has remained the same; Larry the Area Host.
Mat
Amazing Alfredo-Games-Santa Clara-1983
OMG! I remember Larry!
OMG! I remember Larry. I saw him almost daily when I worked at GA from 1989-1992. He always had an energy to him that most never had or had lost. There is one thing that Larry always has with him, that many employees leave at home...his SMILE. I'm glad to hear that he is still there. At least there is one person who will smile at you when you go there.
- SFGAmfreak4life
- Willard's Whizzer
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2005 1:38 pm
- Location: Chicago, IL
You read it here first!!!
Saw this in today's San Jose Mercury News.
Remember, you read it here first!
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercuryn ... 859214.htm
Remember, you read it here first!
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercuryn ... 859214.htm
Great America Security
Santa Clara
1989-1992
Santa Clara
1989-1992
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- Gulf Coaster
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:32 pm
- Location: San Jose, California
- Contact:
Great Article
I emailed the columnist from the Merc a few weeks back about doing a story on Larry for his weekly column. I was surprised when Mike Cassidy contacted me right away. He spent a lot of time with Larry and came back to me saying that it would be great piece to run in the paper. I couldn’t agree more.
Mat
Mat
Amazing Alfredo-Games-Santa Clara-1983
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- Buzzy Bee
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 3:45 pm