Daily Egyptian Spring 04
Spring '04 Edition
Free Ride
Leah Williams
Daily EgyptianTo those who know him, Bob Reid is not just the flag master for the SIUC campus. He is a friend, confidante and one with which to converse. He is warm, kind and giving.
And in the spirit of giving and to show him they care, some of his friends have bought him a present.
In celebration of Reid's giving and friendly nature, the Bailey Hall Council surprised Reid on Saturday afternoon with a red tricycle with a basket in the back. Students and faculty gathered outside to watch their friend Reid take his new wheels on their inaugural spin outside the residence hall.
"I was very surprised ˜ very surprised," Reid, 67, said. "I just carry on my duties because they come natural anymore."
Josh Smith, Bailey Hall head resident and adviser to the council, said Reid was a regular at the residence hall and would often eat dinner with them. The council used its own money to buy sodas to sell on campus. The purpose of the gift was to show Reid how much he meant to both Bailey Hall Council and the campus.
"He just been a really good friend to us, and we feel he is an integral part of SIU," Smith said. "We want to do everything we can to keep him going."
Reid's previous bike was given to him not long after Reid started working as flag master in 1993. Reid took it upon himself to spearhead a mission to light the Pulliam Hall Clock Tower. He was given the bike in gratitude for his efforts.
Architecture professor Jon Davey, who was among those aiding Reid with the lighting plan, has been a friend of his since then. He has helped purchase both Reid's old bike and the new tricycle.
Davey described Reid as a man pure of heart.
"He says exactly what he wants to say," Davey said. "He is acutely honest and tenacious. When he goes after something, he doesn't stop. He doesn't let anything define his disabilities, hardships, barriers or confrontations stop him."
Davey said Reid spends $30 of his own money to buy children ice cream, which acts as one testament to Reid's giving personality.
"He has no flaws," Davey said. "He might piss you off because he's persistent, but he has no flaws."
Reid is very appreciative of both his job and the friends he has made over the years through his work.
"Everyone has been nice to me," Reid said. "I respect all of them. I think of all of them as my big family here. Some days, I talk to them as a dad, but I enjoy it."
Reid said he enjoys warmer weather because he is not able to talk to many people during the harsh Southern Illinois winter cold. But the summertime, when most of the students either leave for home or have graduated, is the worst time for him.
"[After graduation], I am quite sure I will discover that more next fall when I am missing people," he said. "I'll say, 'Oh, they probably graduated.' [But] then I will add new ones. Summer is really the bad months for me because I can get pretty lonely."
At the start of summer session, Reid will be able to see friendly, familiar faces again.
"But in the middle of June, I get them all back again," Reid said.
Beth Scally, assistant director of University Housing, said she was very proud of the students for giving such a thoughtful gift.
"I think it is wonderful because it is very important that the students care about the community they live in," Scally said. "They have really done that, and they are showing a lot of civic efforts. I am really proud of the students taking ownership and looking out for other members of the community."
Scally has seen Reid working around campus since she began working at SIUC. She said his warm personality makes all he meets feel welcome.
"He'll talk to anyone," she said. "He makes everyone feel at home. He bleeds maroon. He's a great guy, and the efforts these guys have put in to raise money for the bike is incredible."
Reid said what he loves most about his job is the opportunity to meet different kinds of people in a single setting.
"I do enjoy life," he said. "I give out happiness, and all I want for them [in return] is to speak and jabber with me."
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Last update: Tuesday, May 4, 2004 at 1:25:36 AM
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