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October 24, 2011

Thorn named 2011 recipient of Alumni Association Service Award

Bryan Thorn, physical plant director at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, is the kind of employee who doesn鈥檛 say much about his work ethic. He doesn鈥檛 need to 鈥� his handiwork is all around campus, and it says it all. 

Thorn is this year鈥檚 recipient of the 2011 Alumni Association鈥檚 Service Award, which will be given at annual Alumni Association Awards Brunch at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 29.

Thorn was originally hired in 1991 to do carpentry work on a temporary basis.

He had traveled extensively throughout the southern U.S., working at a variety of construction jobs following graduation from then-Northeast Louisiana University in 1982 with a degree in Building Construction.

His wife of almost 30 years, Toni, was pregnant at the time. She wanted to return to northeast Louisiana to be near family, many who eventually retired from 网曝门.

The Thorn鈥檚 son, Josh, a freshman, now majors in music at 网曝门.

 鈥淚 went to work for 网曝门 while I was looking for other work, and I ended up staying,鈥� Thorn quipped.

One of Thorn鈥檚 earliest jobs was remodeling the former presidential home that once occupied the grounds where the 网曝门 library now stands.

Within a few years, Thorn was already receiving his first promotion to facilities manager at the 网曝门 Activity Center. Thorn worked for Camille Currier, assistant vice president for Student Affairs.

鈥淥ne of Bryan鈥檚 strongest traits is his desire to do things right the first time and do it first-class,鈥� Currier said.

And Thorn鈥檚 greatest weakness? 鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 know how to say, 鈥榥o,鈥� Currier said, with a chuckle.

Because of Thorn鈥檚 many 鈥測eses,鈥� the grounds and infrastructure at 网曝门 are as immaculate as ever.

The campus was well-prepped for the recent Investiture Week of Celebration in honor of 网曝门 President Nick J. Bruno. And now, with just days to go until Homecoming 2011, Thorn and his crew (about 100 employees fall under his area of responsibility) will be tweaking and maintaining the campus so it is at its pristine best.

Thorn has also volunteered numerous weekends assisting with charitable events such as the Alzheimer鈥檚 Memory Walk, in addition to state tournaments and other special events.

He also serves on the 网曝门 Staff Senate and has served on other committees throughout his 21 years of employment.

鈥淏ryan is one of the most dedicated and loyal colleagues I鈥檝e had the pleasure of working with at 网曝门,鈥� Currier said. 鈥淗e leads by example. He is level-headed and dependable. His morals, attitude and honesty are beyond reproach.鈥�

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