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Show J After 20 years of service s Crossing guard's last stop to house the signs, and Walmsley comes about 30 minutes early to get the signs in place on both sides of the busy intersection he is responsible responsi-ble to guard. Walmsley and his wife, Margaret, moved to Utah from Buffalo, Buf-falo, N.Y. in 1956 when he was transferred by Sunkist to be over the region of Idaho, Utah and Montana. He was a sales representative before moving to the West. He spent most of his life in Philadelphia, Pa. Walmsley has two daughters and "S seven grandchildren. He spent three r. hitches with the National Guard r. Troop B, Calvary division, the same ;ii unit developed during the Revolu- :o tionary War in Philadelphia Light Horse Brigade. . jt "."(., . - " " . v ' v - - - : ;. , , .-.v.v.. ,;n V ' - " tEv I " ; a y 8 v . 3 I V .. -v- & fr w - ' - - - & fr , - , - - - I - V. &;, I . I . VI I' V I A ' - : ! I 1 1 f ;N ' ' Y" a' " ? I " s V 'J Uving a busy life for nearly nine decades. "It will be nice to sit back and relax. My wife will keep me busy, !m sure, as life goes on." Walmsley's supervisor. Bountiful Police Officer Don Potter, said he has been a dedicated crossing guard-one of the most reliable in town. "I could always count on him to be there at his comer, come rain or shine. He has been very willing to do his job and has been very dependable. depen-dable. I haven't needed many substitutes for him," Potter said. But Walmsley shrugged off the accolades. His job has been fairly routine, he said. I "People have been willing to stop and are cautious when driving on Davis Boulevard as it is a very dangerous and busy street. " When he first started working as a crossing guard there were no flashing lights and educating By PAUL CHALLIS BOUNTIFUL-Students walking home this week from two elementary elemen-tary schools and one junior high I will not find a familiar face helping them across the busy street at Davis Boulevard and 1800 South. Their long-time crossing guard, R.R. Walmsley has retired after 20 years of service to the kids from Valley View and St. Olaf s elementary elemen-tary schools and Mueller Park Junior Ju-nior High. "I'll miss the kids. The cold weather I can do without," said Walmsley, who plans to spend more time with his wife and his hobbies, especially woodcarving. "I specialize in making Christmas mangers. I give them away to friends and acquaintances, not for profit," said Walmsley, in between helping kids across the busy intersection on his last day at work Friday. "I have been at the same comer for 20 years for an hour in the mom- drivers to the danger of crossing students came gradually over the years. One of the few unusual experiences experi-ences he recalls was when he was hit by a car about eight years ago trying to stop traffic in the intersection. intersec-tion. "I wasn't badly hurt, I injured my elbow and tore some muscles in my shoulder, but the driver just didn't see me. Walmsley said he has had some trouble with stolen warning signs. "I don't know what they would want them for, but I have had several signs stolen." Nearby neighbors finally agreed ing and another in the afternoon, he said, reminiscing about the job he has deeply loved since leaving his full-time occupation as a district manager for Sunkist Growers, Inc. "It has kept me busy and active and given me something I have really enjoyed doing. 4 'I'm just not able to get around as well as I once did, the 84-year-old guard said. Walmsley said he will miss not seeing the kids and having to be responsible for something, but he admits it's time to wind down after R.R. Walmsley stopped traffic for the last time Friday as he retired from his duties as a crossing guard at Davis Boulevard and 1 800 South. He performed his duties faithfully for 20 years at the same corner. (Photo by Paul Challis) |