Andrew Theophilus, Photo Editor Emeritus–

The halls of Michael D. Eisner Center at Denison University seem to glisten. They are devoid of trash, dust, dirt, or any eyesore. It almost feels like students are not allowed to step foot inside.

However, not all of campus is like this. For years, I have lived and studied at Denison University. I have seen students produce a wide variety of barbaric messes. From trash bags thrown in the hallway, spilling their contents across the floor, to broken bottles and vomit glued to the stairs — Denisonians can really accomplish it all. That is, except for cleaning up after themselves.

Tammy Hymrod, the 60-year-old Building Services Associate, has a more positive outlook than you would expect. Hymrod’s day begins at 4 a.m. when she gets to Denison’s campus.

When Hymrod started her work at Denison, one of her first jobs was cleaning Shepardson Hall.

“I work weekends here, and I know I have to clean up when people get sick, and it’s part of the job. I just — there’s no job above me,” Hymrod said.

There is a deeper reason behind Hymrod’s precision.

“When I need to think about something, or I’m mad — I clean. So coming here is like constant therapy for me, and I like cleaning. I have, it’s not OCD, but it’s something close, because if I see something all messed up, I gotta straighten it up. Yeah, you know, I just do,” she said.

Hymrod was born at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Her birth dad was in the Marine Corps. He and Hymrod’s birth mother moved around the country while they had their children. Hymrod’s last sibling was born in Tennessee after her parents separated. 

Hymrod was put in foster care at the age of 9.

“My mom couldn’t feed us back then. The government gave you food, but it didn’t last all month, and she’d give us bread for dinner,” Hymrod said. “I look back now, and I think that I’ve just come very far.” 

After a falling out with her birth mother at 13, Hymrod asked to be adopted by her foster parents. They agreed. Her birth mother did not speak to her until her high school graduation.

As an adult, Hymrod married a military man and continued her travels. She has since lived in Maryland, Boston, Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri and even Germany.

“We moved every three and a half years, and the Army made it so easy,” she said.

During her travels, she gave birth to four children: Sarah, Heather, Jordan and Jimmy. Now she even has 12 grandchildren. One of them currently works as a BSA in Bryant, Hymrod’s favorite building.

After Hymrod’s travels, she began working in Columbus at IBP as an administrative assistant. She worked there for 6 years. In her time at IBP, she and her husband divorced, and her adoptive mom got sick with dementia.

“When I was nine, she always told me, ‘as long as I have a home, you have a home.’ And so when she got older and she couldn’t live by herself anymore — I had the same feeling. As long as I have a home, my mom had a home,” Hymrod said.

Hymrod’s adoptive mother lived a good life. Her birth mom died a year and a half later.

“When my birth mom died, I just sobbed because she didn’t have a good life. Her mother didn’t support her, you know, she had five children, and she couldn’t feed them, you know, so she gave them away,” Hymrod said.

Her time at Denison has been wonderful. She loves the people and the job.

“My supervisor is so sweet. His name’s David Miller,” Hymrod said. “He has always told me, ‘you are the type of employee that we’re looking for. When I think of an employee I want to hire, they have your characteristics.’”

“I think cleaning is just common sense,” she said.

If you’re a Denison student, next time you are about to throw that bottle on the floor, your trash in the hall, or urinate in a sink — think of Tammy Hymrod. She and her colleagues deserve better. They deserve Denisonians at their best.

Andrew Theophilus ‘25 is a journalism major from Traverse City, Michigan.