Schmidt retires after 25 years of ‘keeping it clean’
Dan Schmidt reads a retirement card from one of the many people who stopped in to wish him well upon his retirement for working for the Holmes County government. Schmidt kept things spotless in several of the county’s buildings for 25 years.
For the past quarter century, Dan Schmidt has been faithfully cleaning several key county buildings. On Friday, Oct. 28, he officially joined the ranks of the retired, and his county friends threw him a farewell pancake and sausage breakfast farewell in the second floor of the Clinton Building, one of the buildings he has kept clean for many years.
For 25 years Schmidt has been roaming the floors and rooms of the Clinton Building, prosecutor’s office and for part of that time the Old Jail commissioner’s building, diligently cleaning and serving as the caretake of the buildings. He also cleaned the former Holmes County veterans’ office when it was located across from the courthouse before it moved to Clinton Street.
Considering how much good-natured ribbing he took from many other county employees and those who came in for breakfast to wish him well, it was apparent that building relationships was a big part of his quarter-century of working for the county.
“I met a lot of great people, and while it wasn’t always easy, I always felt I had a responsibility to serve the people of Holmes County through this work,” Schmidt said. He added that while he has found joy in dealing with people, there were some who were difficult to get along with, but he said that is going to be the case for anyone in any walk of life, so he brushed that aside and tried to focus on the positives.
As for his future, he said he can now devote his full attention and his remodeling skills to a home he has been working on remodeling for many years. He also has a rental unit he operates, and he enjoys going to watch stock car racing with his son Luke.
“I grew up on race cars, and it’s getting harder on me to see to drive at night, so I’m thankful for Luke for taking time to take me to the races,” Schmidt said.
He also said he has his “honey-do” list, knowing full well that he will be finding plenty to do for his fiancée Heidi Clark.
Schmidt went on to talk about his first time he met Dave Hall, who was sworn in as commissioner January 1, 1999. Hall said just days after being sworn in, he was in his office at the Old Jail facility and heard a knock on his door. It was Schmidt and his father Sonny, who was a custodian at the time.
He thought the two had come to offer their congratulations.
He couldn’t have been more wrong.
“I went to the door, there they are with an extra shovel, and they invited me to help shovel snow,” Hall said with a laugh. “Dad was just retiring, and he and Dan worked together a lot. I guess that was their way of welcoming me to county office.”
Hall said seeing Schmidt retire is another moment that is tough to see because he has been a part of the county team for so long. Hall said Schmidt’s willingness to come in early, stay late and do whatever necessary to make sure the buildings were clean was exemplary, and while he is sad to see Schmidt go, he is excited for him to be able to spend the time he wants to do the things he enjoys.
“Elected officials come and go, but Dan was this steady presence through it all,” Hall said.
As for his biggest memory of his time working for the county, Schmidt said while he was cleaning, he also helped renovate the Clinton Street building, helping it transform from the former Rodhe’s IGA store to office facilities for the county.
“When I first came on board (the Clinton Building) only had the tax map and recorder offices,” Schmidt said. “Then we brought in the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, title office, treasurer’s office, auditor and board of election offices. I helped hang a lot of drywall and put together a lot of offices.”
He said he also participated in remodeling efforts in the courthouse, painting, doing wiring and electric, replacing windows and doing whatever asked of him.
Through a major illness, a stroke and the pandemic, Schmidt remained loyal to his work.
It has all led to the gratitude of the many who worked alongside him in the county, and to a new chapter in his life as a retiree.