GREENEVILLE – For 25 years, Travis Parton has served as a light of joy for students, faculty and staff when they eat in the Tusculum University cafeteria.
Travis Parton stands beside the cake made for his anniversary.
Chuck Sutton, left, speaks as Travis Parton, right, listens.
Tusculum honored this beloved cafeteria worker Tuesday, March 19, with a ceremony that highlighted everyone’s affection for him, his excellent work and his playful side, which brightens everyone’s day. Included in the event was a proclamation from Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, declaring March 19 as Travis Parton Day at the university.
The designation drew cheers and applause from all who attended the event.
“Travis is a special young man, and he brings smiles to everybody’s face every day,” said Chuck Sutton, dean of students and interim associate vice president of student affairs and retention. “He has a very positive energy all of the time. We celebrate Travis and his wonderful contributions to the university.”
Parton and Dom Donnelly, Tusculum’s associate athletic director for communications, started working at Tusculum in 1999. They frequently converse in the cafeteria and periodically cross paths at other times.
Travis Parton cuts his anniversary cake.
Dom Donnelly speaks during the ceremony.
“I’m very proud of Travis and all he has accomplished during his time with us,” Donnelly said. “He has touched many lives. A lot of students have come through here, and they hold him in high regard. A lot of folks will ask me, ‘Is Travis still at Tusculum?’ I tell them, ‘Absolutely.’ They always ask about him. God bless, you, Travis, and thank you for blessing us.”
Parton, who has Down Syndrome, is responsible for cleaning dining tables during his shift in the cafeteria. Donnelly has described the tremendous pride Parton takes in completing his work and said he will decline people’s offers to assist him with his duties. On March 19, though, others handled the task so he could enjoy this special day reserved for him.
The other side of Parton is his love of good-natured pranks on his co-workers and faculty and staff members he knows well. His most popular is to turn around the chair of a Tusculum employee when that person has set down items at a table and headed to another part of the cafeteria for more food. When people ask him about his actions, he jokingly denies involvement or says someone else directed him to do it, adding to the good times.
He also engages in similar fun and games with his co-workers. It is a sign of his affinity for the other person that he chooses this approach.
Parton regularly banters with others, and they relish the opportunity to spend time with him. Sutton is one of his frequent targets and closest buddies.
Here is Travis Parton’s anniversary cake.
Chuck Sutton, left, has fun with Travis Parton after the ceremony.
“Travis has developed a pretty strong bond with me,” Sutton said. “We have connected in many different forms. He’s also connected to all of the students through our relationship. Travis is very special to Tusculum and myself as well. He holds a special place in my heart.”
Dean Zoch, director of Tusculum’s dining services, recognizes the love everyone has for Parton.
“I’ve had the good fortune of working with him for the last three years,” Zoch said. “We can talk about the amazing job he does. He has created such a bond with the faculty, staff and students. Everyone knows Travis. Everyone looks forward to seeing Travis every day. I appreciate that Travis cares so much about his job. I also really appreciate his concern about my electric bill because he is always turning off my light on me.”
Travis Parton, second from left, celebrates his anniversary with left to right, Dom Donnelly, Dean Zoch and Chuck Sutton.
Dean Zoch, right, presents a jacket to Travis Parton, middle.
In recognition of Parton’s special day, Zoch presented him with a Tusculum polo shirt and a jacket from Chartwells, Tusculum’s food service provider. The cafeteria also provided a cake for him and set out a table that had trivia about him and an opportunity for people to write a card to him.
In his resolution, Dr. Hummel encouraged faculty, staff and students to further support Parton.
“May Tusculum family members take the day to reflect on the blessing Travis Parton is to all of us and congratulate him on this special achievement,” Dr. Hummel said.
More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.