Keene Equinox

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Ryan McKernan / staff photographer Donald Johnson scurries around the Zorn Dining Commons. Johnson is known for his friendliness and his speedy and efficient work.

You hear a jingling of dishes and silverware from behind you while waiting in line for a slice of pizza. Running behind a cart stacked perfectly with plates and bowls is a thin man with wavy brown hair, glasses and a big smile. He bustles by, the dishes clanking loudly.

"Have a nice day sir," the man says as he passes.

Needing to speak with this man, I stop him with a simple question. "Donald, right?"

He stops, looks directly at me and says one word to me, "yes." Setting up a time to talk with Donald was almost impossible as he uses his impeccable manners in an attempt to get me to interview another employee of the Zorn Dining Commons.

Donald Johnson tells me to interview Irma (Irmgard Randall) or Gordie (Gordon Davis), because "they are more deserving" than himself. It is those manners that set him apart from everybody else.

"He does [his job] efficiently and he looks like he has fun with it. He is super polite," said freshman Karey Mercier.

Johnson is so friendly all the time because he enjoys his job.

"My favorite part of the job is sorting silverware in the dish room," said Johnson.

One might think sorting silverware is all the same, but Johnson said knives are the hardest to sort.

"I love him. He's one of the sweetest guys ever. He always asks me how I am and gives me a fork," said freshman Samantha Hawkes.

To students at Keene State College, he is known as "DC Donald" or "Speedy." He is known for his hardworking style and speed on the job.

"He does [his job] quick and thorough," said freshman Dan Bouffard. "He probably does most of the work around here."

Johnson is known for his respect for others around him. Whether he's actually in a person's way, or just believes he might be, he will excuse himself then promptly offer a student a piece of silverware.

"He always picks up a glass for me," said freshman Mandy Fuller.

Johnson is so beloved by students that he has two Facebook groups created in his honor. One is titled "DC Donald: 'Can I Offer You a Fork, Sir?' and the other "I love Don Johnson (a.k.a Speedy)." The groups currently have 319 and 157 members, respectively. Most of the posts talk about nice things Johnson has said to students.

Students aren't the only ones who appreciate what Johnson does for the school. His coworkers respect the work he does around the Dining Commons.

"He's fast, he's wonderful," said Randall, who has worked with Johnson since he started nine years ago. "He is a machine."

While most people see Johnson at work, there is more to his life than the Dining Commons. Sometimes Johnson will talk about his life outside of work with students.

"He told me he was going to play Tetris [during the weekend] and he was looking forward to it," said Fuller.

Eventually the conversation with Johnson shifts to his life outside of work, which he is far more animated about and the pace of his speech quickens.

Johnson tells me that he is an avid gamer. Along with Tetris, he plays Echo, Blood Omen and Fall of Men on his PlayStation 3. He also enjoys drawing. Johnson will draw things he sees in his videogames, or on his favorite TV show, "Voltron."

When the conversation shifts to animals, Johnson becomes even more animated. He immediately tells about his two cats, Kiki and Pumpkin, who have to live at his parent's house because he cannot have them in his current apartment. Kiki is a skinny black and white cat, and Pumpkin is cross-eyed, Johnson tells us, smiling the entire time. He told one student that the cats like to lick Christmas tree lights.

After being asked what animal he'd be if he could be any, Johnson pondered for a second, noting it'd be something that lives a long time. He continues to think, then decides upon a cockroach.

Johnson, who loves ants, wants an ant farm, but he cannot have one in his current apartment. Given a million dollars, Johnson would give half of it to his brother and then buy a really big house. The remainder of the money would be spent to hire someone to help him build a gigantic ant farm. According to Johnson, the key to a good ant farm is the queen ant.

When Johnson isn't dreaming of his ideal ant farm or holding the door for colleagues, he likes to hike in parks and in the woods behind his parents' house. Also, Johnson walks to work every day from his apartment in Keene.

Johnson listens to mostly heavy metal music, listing his favorite bands as Linkin Park, Disturbed, Godsmack and Drowning Pool. He said that even though the bands have angry names, the music is good.

Working at the Dining Commons means eating a lot of the food there. Johnson's favorite food at the Dining Commons is the rice and the pasta. His favorite candy is M&M's. Johnson said he enjoys them because they are yummy, but also because he enjoys throwing them at his friends.

After some time I look over the page and tell Johnson there are no more questions. I thank him for his time, and he smiled at me.

"This was actually pretty fun," Johnson said. "Answering all those questions."

"Maybe we can do it again sometime," I reply, thinking to myself, instead of wishing me a nice day, he gave me one.

Jake Grossman is a freshman majoring in journalism

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