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Ask some students who most impacted their life during college, and they might respond with a professor. Some might say a best friend, a coach or a teammate. No one thinks of the campus painter — unless they go to Grand View. Grand View’s campus painter Phil Weber is a great influence to many students across campus, from the women’s basketball team to the softball team. Due to Weber’s positive attitude and drive, he received the Excellence in Service Award this spring. This award is presented to someone who goes the extra mile for their students — something that is not in the job description for a painter. Viewfinder reached out to Weber to get his story.

“I have a saying I tell all these kids that work for me: you gotta crawl before you walk. The amazing job that you like to go to every day- that’s not going to happen right away, but if you work like I did, it’ll come to you. And I love it here. I absolutely love it here.”

Said Phil Weber, Grand View’s campus painter, and service award winner. He made it clear that he loves GV for the students. “I don’t even know all of you, and you kids keep me young,” he said.

After 17 years as a commercial union painter, Weber was tired of the political part of the union and didn’t have much work during the winter because of it. Through a connection, he left his job and started at Grand View 11 years ago. It took them about a year to come up with the job, “but after they offered it to me, I’m here and I never want to look back. To me, this is my dream job.”

In conversation with Weber, it quickly became clear that he is a people person, with a passion to serve and give to others. We had the opportunity to hear about his career and accomplishments at Grand View University, his passion to lead teams of kids, and his love for Green Bay Packers football.

Weber hires kids during the summer to work on his team, but he isn’t a regular boss. His job goes beyond filling out work orders and managing a team. Phil showed us what he calls his convenience store, a section of his office filled with snacks where any student who needs a break or needs anything they might not have money for has access to. And it comes from his pocket. “I feed my kids. There’s stuff in the refrigerator too….You are our future and you need people out there to take care of you.” He said. Beyond the convenience store, Weber goes out of his way to make sure kids on his teams are taken care of, taking his them out to lunch, and giving gas money to kids who need it.

It isn’t rocket science, he said. Anyone that wants a summer job can ask him about painting. “I get to hire up to eight people, and I make it fun for them.” He said a sense of humor is a requirement to work for him, and all the kids he’s worked with before absolutely do.

People have noticed Weber’s extra-mile attitude, and have started to give back. He lives for the Packers. He has an entire room dedicated to their memorabilia, and his dream was to one day see a game at Lambeau Field. One summer for his birthday, he was working on a house when something strange started to happen. “I had crew members that hadn’t worked for me in quite a while start showing up, and I didn’t know what was going on.” They all came together to give Weber a card-carrying two tickets for the Packers vs. Lions at Lambeau Field. “I was so emotional. You know, I don’t ask for anything from you guys, all I want to do is give, that’s who I am. But for them to take their own money and get me something for me and my son….I am so appreciative,” Weber said.

Weber said one of the greatest things to happen to him (other than the Green Bay game) was receiving the Distinguished Faculty Service Award. Grand View offers this award for those who have strong and sustained records of accomplishment, who have demonstrated exemplary service, and who are committed to serving students, faculty, and the mission of Grand View. Weber said he never thought in a million years that he would be a recipient, but after one of his past team members wrote a letter to the committee, he was nominated. “I’m a very sensitive guy, so I sat at that table knowing I had one this, but after they read this letter she had written, I instantly started bawling. I swear half the people there had tears in their eyes,” Weber said.

But for Weber, it’s more than an award for his job. “Knowing that someone on campus sees what you do and is appreciative is really good to know. The award is great, but that’s not why I do this at all. I do this for the kids. Each and every one of you,” Weber said.