b'One Mans Journey (Final)By Richard Jones, Retired MSPMA memberI t is during one of the meetingsI recall the excitement he shared fromthis special obligation I would have that I learn that my name is in thehis recent attendance in the Midwesta special room assigned to me and it air as a possible candidate to beFacility Masters Conference (WASBO).was through this reservation or should President and I become very uneasyThey had noticed a remarkable growthI say, they forgot to book my room, a as I feel I do not have the skillset toin membership brought about inyoung man from Schooldude caught be considered for such an honor. (Impart by their Certification Trainingwind of this and assisted in securing my now trying to find a way to slither awayProgram and felt this was an avenuebooking on site in Kentucky. Something while not drawing negative attention- Iworth pursuing for MSPMA. Thereabout Bryan Holland caught my eye have never shared this as I do not feelwere general comments made, but no(Im one to not always follow rules of worthy). Secretly, Im praying for adecision was made to examine furtherengagement/red tape) and we discussed way out of this possible nomination.this new information. For some reason,the possibility of Schooldude joining Well, like the song states, sometimesI did not forget this new vendor fromthe board as a vendor representative. I we need to thank God for unansweredSchooldude and the name Bryanbelieve it was that next year, Schooldude prayers. Now here I am faced withHolland stuck like glue. Besides, its not(Bryan Holland) was elected to serve as what I feel is an awesome responsibilityeasy to forget a man who plays golf inour second vendor representative. not only to the board, but to Missouriflip flops! Here it is time (2004-2005) and Im school districts. Yes, you guessed it, IAs a state organization, we werebeing announced as President for 2005.was selected to serve as the incomingsupporting (financially) our National MSPMA president for 2004-2005.School Plant Managers association. AsAll these years I have been attending, During a typical board meeting, Ian upcoming president elect, I was tomy wife has yet to attend (silly me, did believe it was 2003, a new vendor guestattend the next NSPMA conference innot think she would want to attend our from Schooldude was in attendance andKentucky. (Did I fail to mention, withconference). But here she is attending and at my side for this special occasion. After the conference was over, I was told (by my loving wife) she would be in attendance from this point on! The conference IS a delightful experience and event!As a matter of fact, our granddaughters birthday fell on the conference time frame and we celebrated her birthday prior to the MSPMA conference for the next nine years.Remember all those years we encouraged new prospective attendees to come and give the conference a chance (and 90% would reply, I dont have time) but, once they did attend they all agreed they would be back the next year!I retired in 2008 as Facility Manager of a SW MO school district and the BuildingBe\x1der Schools, Together. part I would miss is that I would no longer be an active part of MSPMA. BUT due in part to my continued responsibility to prepare our yearly conference booklets, I continued close ties and attended the yearly conferences with Judy at my side (and Aubrey/ 1000 Macklind Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 I 314.833.3555I hollandcs.com Grand Daughter celebrating another early birthday).22|SCHOOL PLANT MANAGER MAGAZINE|SPRING 2026'