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| Photo by Bill O’leary Washington Post |
Reading the Washington Post article on St. Mary’s College recruiting problems yesterday made me think of the college’s first President Renwick Jackson who passed away last July (click here.) Jackson was president of St. Mary’s when I attended there from 72 to 75 and was the one who shook my hand and presented me my diploma when I graduated. However, that is not the main reason I always smile when I think of him and his legacy at St. Mary’s.
I was part of the moving crew who moved Dr. Jackson into his residence at the Cobb House in 1969. I was working for Hilldrup Van Lines at the time and we were assigned to help assist with the move in of Dr. Jackson’s household items.
In the move business, the larger items of furniture and appliances are loaded onto the truck first and the smaller, boxed items are then “floated” on and around the larger items. Jackson had many boxes of books which we off loaded and set to the side as we tackled the larger, bulkier furniture first. Right in the middle of the move, it began to rain, pour actually to the point that we had to stop the move and take shelter in the half unloaded van.
However, the boxes of books were still stacked out in the pouring rain. Jackson came out and advised us “Gentlemen, I have some priceless tomes that will be ruined if they sit out in this rain. Would you mind moving them out of the rain.” My fellow moving crew members made several jokes about what a tome might be, and bottom line, made up their minds they weren’t getting wet moving any tomes. I grabbed a dolly, loaded the boxes and wheeled them into the house. It only took me a couple of trips but I did get soaked doing so. Dr. Jackson thanked me profusely.
Skies cleared and we finished the move. Jackson came out to the van and addressed us again “I would like give each of you a small stipend.” To which one of my co-workers replied “I don’t want no stipend, I want a tip.” Jackson gave us each a couple of dollars. He then asked if one of us wouldn’t mind helping him move one more item in the house. Although he addressed this to the group, he looked right at me as he asked it, so I said ok.
We went into the house where he turned to me and said, “I don’t have anything else to move. I just wanted to thank you for moving those boxes for me and to give you this.” With that he placed a five dollar bill in my hand. I tried to beg off and give it back but he refused and said “One should always reward good work.”
Of all the things I learned at St. Mary’s College, Jackson’s “tip” may have been the most important of them all.