Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Early riser. Caring attitude. True gentleman.
Those are just a few of the phrases used to describe Floyd Ellis, who retired Sept. 16 as the head custodian at Zippel Elementary School.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
FLOYD ELLIS, who retired Sept. 16 as the head custodian at Zippel Elementary School in Presque Isle, was honored recently at a reception in the school’s cafeteria. In addition to many kind words, Ellis received a Presque Isle Wildcats jacket featuring his nickname, Big. Here, Ellis admires his gift as wife, Goldie, looks on.
At a retirement party held Oct. 2 at the school, friends and colleagues gathered to congratulate Ellis, who worked at the school for 32 years, and for SAD 1 for 45 years.
Loretta Clark, principal at Pine Street Elementary School, first came to know Ellis through her father, who also worked for the district as a bus driver and custodian for many years.
“Floyd started his SAD 1 career at the old Mapleton Elementary School which is where I attended as a child,” said Clark. “Throughout his career, he has cared for every child and staff person with whom he has encountered each day and every year. He always displayed a strong work ethic and a caring attitude about work, people, and most importantly … children.
“I have been many places in the district and still consider Zippel as one of my favorite places … thanks to Floyd. Floyd was an early riser and would be eat at Mapleton Lunch and still be at Zippel School early,” she said. “I was an early riser and Floyd always greeted me in the hallway and would wander down to my classroom. We would have a wonderful morning conversation to start off my day.”
Clark said Ellis remains distinguished “for his pride in his family and the pride he took in making every inch of Zippel School shine!”
“I think some children thought that Zippel was Floyd’s home,” she said. “He was particular on how things looked and he worked hard to achieve this. Floyd exhibited traits of always being a true gentleman … opening the door for a woman, hats off in a building, and wonderful manners, honesty, and always that gentle and kind smile.”
Mabel Desmond has been a friend of Ellis and his wife, Goldie, for years.
“Floyd knew his job from top to bottom,” she said. “He was a real educator; a jack of all trades, and a master of all of them. Floyd was always responsible, dedicated, and hard-working … a real constant who was always there when you needed him.
“Floyd has the nicest smile, and it was always heartwarming knowing that someone would always be there to greet you with a smile,” said Desmond. “Floyd was always very pleasant to children. He was respectful of teachers and students alike, and would never demean students. Floyd was a role model to the kids.”
Ellis, 77, was born in Castle Hill, the twin son of Fred and Carrie Ellis. His brother, Lloyd, lives in Presque Isle, while Ellis still resides in Castle Hill.
“I was a little bigger than by brother, so they always called us ‘Big Boy’ and ‘Little Boy,’” said Ellis, who has a vanity license plate that says, ‘Big Boy.’ “That’s the way it’s always been.”
After graduating from Mapleton High School in 1950, Ellis worked on the family farm and was then drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952.
“I married my wife, Goldie, in 1953 when I was in the service,” he said. “I served during the Korean War, but never had to leave the United States. After I got out of the military, I worked for L & V Smith in Castle Hill helping put the crop in, doing the spraying, and other work. I worked there until 1963, and then I went to work for SAD 1.”
Ellis started as a custodian in Mapleton “at the old grade school.”
“In the fall of 1963, I was one of the custodians/bus drivers who opened Skyway Middle School,” he said. “The following summer, I worked around the other schools in the district, and was helping Nellie Guerrette wash windows down at Cunningham when Roland Andrews, the superintendent at the time, called and asked if I wanted to go over to the bus garage and work. I went there and did mechanical work and drove a bus until 1976.”
In 1976, Ellis came over to Zippel as a head custodian and had been until his retirement.
“I don’t have the slightest idea how I’m going to spend my retirement,” said Ellis. “I’ve got to figure that out. I’ve got some odds and ends to do around the house, so I’ll be putting around there.”
At Ellis’ retirement party, he was presented a plaque from the SAD 1 board of directors, as well as a Presque Isle Wildcats jacket featuring his nickname, Big. Guests – many of whom wore rags in their waistband to show support for Ellis and his years of keeping the school polished – were then treated to cake and other refreshments in the cafeteria, which for the first time in years, Ellis didn’t have to clean up.
“I’m no hand around crowds,” said Ellis, “but it was nice that they had this party for me. I want to thank the Zippel staff for putting this on, and all the other teachers, custodians, bus drivers and all my friends who I’ve known for the last 32 years. Thank you!”
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
FLOYD ELLIS was honored Oct. 2 at a retirement party held at Zippel Elementary School. Ellis had been the head custodian at the school for 32 years. Here, Loretta Clark, left, shares kind words about Ellis at the celebration as, from left: Goldie Ellis, Floyd’s wife; Ellis, and friend, Mabel Desmond, look on.
