Two special members of the Southern Arkansas University family were honored at the Mulerider basketball game on February 7.
Judy Vasser, assistant professor of theatre and mass communication and Robert Murphy, who is classified as a heavy equipment operator at the Physical Plant, were honored as a part of Mulerider Madness which involved special recognition at each men’s basketball home game this season. Head Basketball Coach Eric Bozeman said both individuals demonstrate an extremely positive attitude at work.
“Both of these individuals display an attitude that is infectious and inspiring to others,” Bozeman wrote in an email recently. “These two do not seem to ever have a bad day!”
Vasser, who began part-time at SAU in 1979 and has been fulltime since 1982, said she has enjoyed every role she has played at the University over the years including teaching an introduction to speech class, a dance and stage movement class and working as an admissions recruiter. These days she is happily involved with the Encore program.
“I am just so blessed that I get to do this. I look forward to going to work everyday and I’m doing everything I love to do and teaching it,” Vasser said. “The best thing is that I get to share it with all these great kids. They bless me more than I could possibly bless them. I feel like it is a great privilege to be here.”
Vasser grew up in Lewisville and said both her parents graduated from the University when it was known as Agricultural and Mechanical College, Third District.
Murphy, who is 73-years-old and has been working for SAU for almost 19 years, said he likes to tell his co-workers that he looks like he is 29-years-old. Most people around campus recognize him because he usually wears rainbow suspenders.
Murphy’s main jobs include mowing, blowing leaves and tiding up the debris around campus. He attended Southern Arkansas University after he finished high school, but he was not able to finish due to family obligations, he said. But he would still like to take another history class at night if he can figure out how to do that and not miss spending time with his eight grandchildren who visit him almost each day.
“I remember the class that I took in the 60s was about civilization up to 1646 and after 1646,” Murphy said. “I hope to be able to take the course again. It is interesting to see why we are doing what we are doing,” Murphy said.
Until he gets the time to reenroll in school, he said he will continue to enjoy being a part of the campus in his own way.
“I find my job invigorating—the work, the students, the faculty and staff people,” Murphy said. “If you exert a positive attitude, then that is what you will get in return. I feel like everything is OK if I see a smile on my grandbabies face or a smile on the face of the students.”
