of the Year at ERMC

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

Anyone with the name "Bronco" has got to have some get-up-and-go about him and that is certainly true of Bronco Hampton.

As an environmental service technician at Edge Regional Medical Center, Hampton is known as an outstanding hard worker and one who never complains about going the extra mile. He always goes at top speed and never seems to tire and, if someone needs him, he’s on his way.

For those reasons and a fistful more, Hampton was named employee of the year at ERMC Wednesday and the applause he received was an indication that everyone felt he was worthy.

"Bronco is very dependable; he’s friendly, courteous, polite and he never refuses to help," said Jennifer Ventress, chief nursing officer. "He takes pride in his work and it shows. He is an asset to the hospital and a man of all trades. He is deserving to be our employee of the year."

Hampton said he was surprised to hear his name called.

"Any one of the other three would have been very deserving," he said. "I want to thank those who nominated me and

those who voted for me. I hope I deserve this. It’s the biggest honor I have ever gotten and I’m real proud of it."

Hampton has worked at Edge in environment services for 21 years and he has no plans to do anywhere else.

"If I’ve been here this long, so I might as well stay," he said, laughing. "I’ve got a lot of friends here and I like my work, so I don’t want to go anywhere else or do anything else."

Hampton is a native of New Jersey and was christened "Branco." However, an elementary school teacher dubbed him "Bronco" for "no particular reason" and he’s never been able to buck it. Not that he ever wanted to. "It suits me just fine."

His family moved to Panama City and, as a young man, he was working in the dish room at the Treasure Ship. But,

the job kept him in hot water all the time, so he came to Alabama looking for a "cooler"

job.

"My mother was moving to Chicago, but I applied for a job in housekeeping at Edge and I got it, so I decided to stay here," he said. "I’ve never been sorry.’

Hampton said his duties at Edge include garbage and linens and waxing and buffing floors.

He really likes to make things shine, so "doing floors" is right down his alley or, rather, right down the ERMC hallway.

"I do take pride in my work," he said. "A shiny floor means I’m doing a good job and I like to do a good job. Every day I come to work, I want to do the best job I can."

Hampton’s worth ethic has earned him the respect and admiration of his co-workers and now, it’s earned him a trip to Nashville to compete for the employee of the year title for Community Health Systems, a plaque, a check, free lunches in the cafeteria and a reserved parking space for a year.

"I guess the thing I’m proudest of is the parking place," he said, laughing. "That’s a big thing, having your own private parking place."

And, as far as he’s concerned, Hampton has found his permanent "parking" place right here in Troy.

"From Troy you can go north, south, east or west," he said. "I can go anywhere I want to go and then I can come back home and go back to work and that keeps me smiling. That keeps me happy."