It’s hard not to smile when talking with Jerry White. Excitement shines through White’s stories, and though he tries to keep them short, his delight in the retelling is obvious.
White has been working on campus for 33 years. He started as a cook in the old Vista Grande complex and today serves as lead custodian. White continues to develop new skills — he taught himself to play bass guitar and is now learning lead on a guitar modeled after fellow Mississippi native, blues legend B.B. King. King named his guitar Lucille. White hasn’t named his yet.
A native of Leland, Mississippi, White made the trip west to San Luis Obispo more than three decades ago following a brother. The rest, as they say, is history.
White recently took a short minute to talk about life lessons, how to treat others, and who would play him in a movie about his life.
Q: What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
A: To hold on to good health and never let it go!
Q: What do you do when you are not at work?
A: Relax and take life easy. Life is sometimes too short to take things seriously.
Q: What is your favorite word? Why?
A: My favorite word is "improvise." Don't get upset, find a way to make it work!
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: Blessed and old. Not everybody can say that!
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
A: Treat others the way I would like to be treated!
Q: Who would play you in the movie of your life?
A: Denzel Washington would be a great pick, or Jim Brown when he was younger!