From vibrant flowers in the spring to neatly cleared sidewalks on the snowiest winter days, it’s easy to take for granted the beautifully maintained grounds on the West Virginia University Morgantown Campus.

But what some might forget is that behind every beautiful landscape and treated surface, you will find the hardworking Roads and Grounds crew that is responsible for maintaining nearly 600 acres of landscape across the Downtown, Evansdale, and Health Sciences areas of campus.

Harrison Foy, an operations manager from Grantsville, Maryland, who came to WVU in 2018 after working in construction for more than two decades, pointed out the unit’s responsibilities go far beyond making the campus aesthetically pleasing and safe for employees, current and prospective students, and other visitors.

Duties also include supporting large events such as Commencement, moving furniture and million-dollar equipment, participating in campuswide sanitation and recycling initiatives, and overseeing pest control, concrete work and on-site repairs of everything from chain saws to dump trucks.

Serving the University for 18 years, the lead supervisor for the labor group Charles “Chuck” Spitznogle praised the crew for their impressive job performance. “The team works hard to maintain all three campuses, including the Animal Science Farm. They are detailed and careful in performing their jobs and they get the job done on time,” he said.

During the winter months, there are times when the crew starts their workday as early as 4:30 a.m. to get a jump on things while most are still sleeping. This includes snow and ice removal efforts on campus roads, more than 25 miles of sidewalks, approximately 5,000 steps and several acres of parking lots.

Unlike Foy, who loves winter and plowing snow, Josh White, a member of the labor crew, prefers warmer weather. “Iced surfaces are the hardest to deal with and the Life Sciences Building steps are one of the toughest spots on campus. We have to continually dig at the steps and add salt,” he said.

However, team member Doug Norman, a local carpenter for nearly 25 years, said he loves “big snows” and enjoys tackling the icy steps to help keep everyone safe.

Derrick Statler, an avid camper who said he is “not a fan of shoveling snow,” also finds summer duties more appealing.

Along with their outdoor responsibilities, workers also shift their focus to essential indoor work. Kimathy Allen, a horror movie memorabilia collector who joined the labor team after his coal mining job was eliminated, particularly enjoys the lack of monotony this provides, as well as the opportunity to get out and meet new people.

Jeff McClure, a Blacksville native hailing from a family of coal miners, finds large event setup the most complex and demanding part of his job.

Rounding out the workers, Patrick Davis, who helps his wife run a local nonprofit cat rescue and has been with the team for nearly two decades, says one of his most unusual job duties has been moving a globe from Brooks Hall to the Mountainlair during New Student Orientation each summer.

So, next time you’re walking or driving on campus, remember to take a moment to appreciate this dedicated team and others who work tirelessly to keep our campus beautiful and safe for everyone to enjoy. Their efforts are truly vital to the success of WVU.