Mr. Gene

Our Resilient Worker Profile Series continues with the one and only Gene “Mr. Gene” Lefeged!  Shot in the leg serving his country in Vietnam.  Unemployed and nearly penniless after returning home.  Drove a bus at a local Catholic grade school to make ends meet.  Persevered and prospered at the school for 44 years leaving an incredible legacy of kindness and compassion that influenced an entire generation of students and faculty.  Mr. Gene’s life story, at face value, is a simple narrative of perseverance and loyalty.  But looking deeper at the choices he made and the lives he positively impacted, Mr. Gene shines through as an inspiration and hero to resilient workers across the world!

Mr. Gene is the youngest of nine children and grew up in a modest but loving house in the suburbs of Washington, DC.  At 19, he was drafted into the war and shipped overseas to serve in Vietnam.  Immediately after he was deployed, Mr. Gene marched into a vicious firefight in the dense forest of the Ankhe Valley.  A bullet ripped through his leg, but he still managed to make it out alive and even help some of his fellow soldiers to safety.  As soon as he recovered from the injury, Mr. Gene was sent right back out into the teeth of combat.  He was incredibly fortunate to avoid any additional injury but the experience of feeling like a sitting duck weighed on him for the next few years.  Finally, at the age of 21, after dutifully serving his country, Mr. Gene was sent home to what he hoped would be a productive and prosperous life.

But there was no hero’s welcome for many of the Vietnam Veterans in those days.  Ridiculed and belittled for his part in the war, Mr. Gene was turned down for dozens of jobs.  He had spent his last nickel and was in danger of going down a dangerous path of depression and resentment.  With nowhere else to turn, Mr. Gene walked two miles down the road to Mater Dei School, an idyllic Catholic grade school set back on a hill just off the main road.  There he met Mr. Bob Barros, the president, headmaster and founder of the school, and asked him for a job.  Mr. Barros politely turned him down.  It was another crushing blow for Mr. Gene.   He trudged slowly back down the driveway toward a life of drudgery and despair.  He was visibly angry and beyond frustrated.  The war had not been fair.  His treatment had not been fair.  His life had not been fair.  But as his mind raced toward negative thoughts and blame, he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey Gene!”, Mr. Barros gently called out.  “What exactly are you looking for?”

“I just want someone to give me respect!” Mr. Gene shot back.

Mr. Barros looked him solemnly in the eyes and lowered his voice to a whisper.

“You have to earn respect.  It can’t be given.”

There was something so simple yet so powerful about his delivery.  Mr. Gene suddenly felt that huge chip lift off his shoulder and he smiled for the first time since coming back home.  Mr. Barros returned the smile.

“Can you drive a bus?” he asked

“Better than anyone!” Mr. Gene lied.

With that, Mr. Barros threw him the keys and the legendary career of Gene Lefeged was born!  Over the next 44 years, Mr. Gene tackled every job imaginable at the school.  Bus driver, chief custodian, building and grounds director, car pool monitor.  More importantly, Mr. Gene interacted with the students and lent a sympathetic ear to their problems and a word of encouragement when they struggled.  He always stayed positive and cautioned the students against taking themselves too seriously.  They loved him.  They trusted him.  But it was not always easy for Mr. Gene.  Over the course of his career, he had to battle his old war injury, battle a devastating accident with a tractor and wage a new war against alcoholism that nearly cost him his job.  But Mr. Gene would not be denied.  How could he?  Mater Dei had given him the opportunity to thrive and earn respect in this world.  Mater Dei was home.  He would not let them down.  He would not let the children down.

On his last day of employment, at the age of 65, Mater Dei rolled out the red carpet for Mr. Gene.  A brand new pickup truck waited for him in the main driveway.  44 years after Mr. Barros threw him the keys to the bus, the new Headmaster threw him the keys to a shiny new pickup.  It was a great moment for Mr. Gene but it was the second best thing to happen to him that day.  As he jumped in the truck, the entire student body began chanting his name in unison at the top of their lungs: “Gene! Gene! Gene!”  A wave of emotion poured over Mr. Gene and tears streamed down his face.  At that moment, he realized that through his resiliency and perseverance, he had finally earned that respect!

What can Mr. Gene’s journey teach us about our own life?  Plenty!  How many of feel we are entitled to respect and don’t have to earn it?  How many of us give up and move on to greener pastures when we face adversity in our work or home lives?  How many of us still have that huge chip on our shoulder and blame others for our own setbacks and disappoints?  How many of us listen to our mentors and remain open to change?  Finally, in this day and age of corporate buyouts and forced early retirements, how many of us will have an opportunity to shed tears of joy at our retirement party?

Let Mr. Gene show you the way.  We control our own destiny.  We must forge our own path and earn the respect of our colleagues and family members.  We must persevere through those difficult moments in order to have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in this world.  Mr. Gene is the happiest and most content retired person I have ever met.  Such is the reward for leading a positive and resilient life.

And such will be your reward.  Saddle up! Stay positive! Keep working hard!  Listen to your mentors and understand that you are never a victim. And keep making this world a better place!   There are people who believe in you.  Your greatest moments are yet to come.

Until next week, keep smiling!