Where were you in 1964? Custodian Eli Jackson was just starting his career in the University’s Department of Residential Life the year Kirby Smith Hall was built, and he hasn’t skipped a beat since.
“I’ve worked here for almost 54 years, but it feels like 30,” Jackson said.
Jackson was one of the 12 honorees for the Charles E. Dunbar, Jr. Career Civil Service Award. It is awarded annually to recognize outstanding civil employees, ranging from police officers to lawyers.
Associate Director of Housing Operations Celena Trahan nominated Jackson for the award.
“Mr. Eli is like no other,” Trahan said. “He’s been here for almost 54 years and he’s probably the hardest working person in this whole department.”
During the Baton Rouge floods in August 2016, Jackson was one of three residential life employees who was able to come to work, Trahan said.
“I can depend on him to be here for anything that happens,” Trahan said. “Last week when I ran out of gas, who was the first person I called? Mr. Eli.”
Jackson said the University was his last hope for a job because they were hard to find in 1964. Before he was hired, he was told, “I don’t know if you can do the work.”
Jackson plays a variety of roles at the University, from training custodial staff to being a master locksmith. He is there to help with anything that comes up, Trahan said.
Jackson said there is never a dull day because every day brings something different.
“I just enjoy meeting people and working with them trying to help them out or whatever they need,” Jackson said. “It’s a family here.”
Trahan said Jackson takes his job to the next level. Not only does he teach new custodians the technical aspects of the job, but he teaches them to have pride in their work.
“[If] anything comes up, I fix it,” Jackson said. “I get joy out of helping other people.”
Jackson said the shift from keys to using a student ID was the greatest thing that could have happened to the University.
“I tell everybody you need to come out here and go to school because you’ve got everything out here you need,” Jackson said. “Everybody here looks after the students, if they’ve got a problem, we’ve got a problem.”
Director of Housing Karen Rockett told Jackson he is not allowed to retire. She said he very rarely takes sick days and only about one vacation a year.
“If he’s gone two weeks, that’s a long time. We miss him,” Rockett said. “He’s a big part of our organization. We really say Eli runs this place.”
Jackson said even though he has worked for so long, he does not feel like he has missed out on anything.
“I have no regrets or nothing,” Jackson said. “I feel great.”
Rockett said she also refers to Jackson as a historian because he has been at the University for so long and knows the buildings well.
“I meet a lot of people, and the first thing they want to know is when I’m going to retire,” Jackson said. “You got your health–that’s what it’s all about. If you’ve got bad health, money don’t mean nothing.”
Jackson said the University is 100 percent better than when he started. Executive director of Residential Life and Housing Steve Waller has worked with Jackson for about 20 years, and said Jackson’s willingness to work has made him such a valuable part of the department’s staff.
“I’ve learned over the years that the man doesn’t know the word no,” Waller said. “He will take on anything and do it with a smile. He’s the type of employee that every company wishes they had 100 percent of because if I had 100 percent of my staff as Mr. Eli, there’s no limits to what we can do. His dedication to students and this institution is unmatched by anybody I’ve met on this campus.”
