By Gail Beveridge
You may know him as the man who puts salt on the icy sidewalk outside of your dorm or the guy who guarantees that the campus Christmas tree is lit. Since 1987 he’s made sure that the fields are ready for Homecoming and the stages are built for official academic ceremonies. Even if you haven’t seen him, he’s made life at McDaniel easier for you.
Phil Boob, director of grounds and special events, is one of McDaniel’s most valuable staff members, and a “caring, dedicated, hard-working, well-liked individual,” says Mel Whelan, another 21-year staffer and building services coordinator, “but he’s not going to admit it.”
Boob does, in fact, deny that he is an unsung hero in spite of his long hours and the lack of mention on McDaniel’s web site. “I consider myself an employee,” he explains, “I try to do my job.” His modesty, however, is unconvincing.
Robin Brenton points out that much of McDaniel’s community is unaware of the “tremendous time and effort” that Boob provides to maintain the physical aspect of the campus. As vice president of alumni relations, Brenton works closely with Boob and describes the “love and care that goes beyond what’s expected,” when planning and operating the logistics of events on campus.
Boob has a long history of going beyond what’s expected. It began on his grandparents’ farm in Loganton, Pa., where he worked almost year round. Although he lived and attended high school in a town 14 miles away, he caught a ride with the milk truck to and from school during the week so that he could help out on the farm. It was on the farm that Boob’s love affair with the outdoors blossomed.
“I enjoy it,” he says, “just to get out, to be out.”
His dream job? “A guide for hunting or fishing,” Boob says without hesitation, “somewhere in the West.” He has even been known to take a couple of hours and stop at a local fishing hole.
“If I want to throw a line in the water, I can,” he says, “or, I can just look around at nature.” Unfortunately, these days there is little time for fishing or looking, but Boob is not one to complain.
In fact, Boob makes no mention of the endless grounds maintenance or heavy lifting he takes part in, but says that “dealing with personnel issues” is the worst part of his job. “The firing’s always hard,” he says.
It is easy to see that the physical aspect of his job is not the worst part for Boob. His strong frame is evidence of his football career at Delaware Valley College, but his humility prevents him from promoting his work ethic, physical or not. Luckily, others are willing to describe his work ethic for him.
“Phil goes the distance,” says Mary Ann Friday, executive assistant to President Coley. “If he sees something that needs to be done, he’s on it.” Friday has worked with Boob on every major event hosted by the President’s Office, and is confident in his abilities. “I look forward to working with him,” she says, “always.”
“The special touches, the very early morning and late evening hours,” set Boob apart, adds Brenton. However, it is his dedication to McDaniel’s community that “shows in every aspect of his work,” he says.
Boob agrees that the community has played a large role in his loyalty to McDaniel. “It is my family and the community that keep me here,” he says.
However, when Boob first arrived at McDaniel in 1987 he was not as taken with his surroundings. He was holed up for a month in the Thompson Hall infirmary while his house?at 181 Pennsylvania Ave.?was being prepared for him, his wife and son. Shortly after his stay in a room that consisted of a “cot and an alarm clock,” he met Whelan, and credits their friendship for support. “We’ve been through the grace period of ‘it’ll get better,'” says Boob.
Whelan agrees that they have always been a good team. He says that Boob has not changed since that first year, except around the edges. “He’s gotten grayer,” Whelan reveals about Boob’s hair. “I’m not sure he doesn’t dye it.”
Aside from good friends, Boob’s link to the McDaniel community was strengthened by his family and the benefits that his job provided them. Raising children with access to the campus meant the family could take full advantage of the swimming pool, athletic fields and library. In those days, Boob relied on the campus for both work and life, which meant that “there was not a lot of separation between the job and my family,” he says.
As his kids got older, however, Boob was able to provide them with tuition through his position at McDaniel. When he found himself frustrated at work, Boob says that he reminded himself, “I’m doing this to provide for my family.”
Now, as Boob’s son works on a master’s degree at Syracuse University and his daughter establishes herself as a nurse, the pressure is subsiding for Boob, and he is creating a space between his work and the rest of his life.
“I’ve completed at least two thirds of my job as a father and husband,” he says of the opportunity his work provided his children. It is questionable, however, whether he can now truly relax.
Whelan says that Boob returned to work two days after knee surgery last year. “He’s not one to stay home,” Whelan says, “or to say no.” He’s mowed the golf course lawn when employees were out sick, he’s taken care of plumbing issues in buildings that technically aren’t in his jurisdiction, and “I’ve seen him here at 5 a.m. when the snow is falling,” says Friday.
“Would I like to retire as early as I can?” says Boob. “Yeah.” But for 21 years, he has been an irreplaceable member of the campus community. For Boob to be matched as a friend and colleague, “Well,” says Whelan, “that would take an exceptional individual.”