DePauw Stories

Ask Harlan Akers what is interesting about his work, and he answers easily.

“Variety is the best part of my job,” he says. “I’m not in the same building all day, but usually in five or six. It’s very different from an office or factory assembly line job, and that’s what I like about it.”

Last year Akers left the grounds crew where he had worked for 10 years to join a new division of Facilities Management, the moving crew, where he works with Jeff Peters.

“Grounds used to take care of moving, too, so it’s not a real departure from what I used to do,” he says. While he admits to missing parts of the job, “I don’t miss being outside all the time – especially in 95-degree weather.”

It’s physical work. So, what keeps him motivated? “I was raised with a strong work ethic,” he says. “At my age, I probably should slow down, but I think, no, you should keep going. Because if you stay active as much as you can, you generally stay in better health in later years.”

And for now, he’s going to keep moving – moving all kinds of furniture and boxes of books. Lots of books. The other day, he moved 37 boxes of books from Harrison Hall to Roy O. West Library.

Before coming to DePauw, Akers worked for a rental parade float business and traveled to small towns in Michigan, Kentucky and Indiana. He liked the travel but not the hours.

Akers grew up west of Brazil, a mile and a half from Staunton, population 800.

It was in the ’60s, and he describes life with a party telephone line and milk delivery trucks.

Now, Akers enjoys spending time at home gardening and is in his second year of trying to raise bees “without having them all die.” He often looks to fellow facilities co-worker, carpenter Bill Wallace, for advice.

Akers talks about changes he’s seen since coming to DePauw. Most notable, he says, are improved athletic facilities, which are important to attract students, Akers says, because “smart kids want to be active in sports.” Housing, too, is an attraction for prospective students, and Akers understands it takes time and money to build and maintain both. “But,” he says, “I’m encouraged that the administration is taking steps in the right direction to get there.”