Graduates of Fort Myers High School from the past twenty-four years will likely have no trouble remembering the smiling face of An Le, Custodian. Yet, Custodian was not all he was or is. If you remember An Le, then you likely remember his story and if you don't know who this is, then listen closely because it's an amazing tale. For those who knew him, we knew that he came from Vietnam after the war and we knew that in Vietnam he was a math professor. Yet, his lack of English speaking skills prevented him from teaching in the USA when he arrived, despite the fact that, by their own admission, he was smarter than the majority of the math faculty. He quickly scooped up the custodial job at FMHS so that he could be around educators and students. We also remember that he had a Masters degree in mathematics and may have been the most overqualified custodian ever. But he never let that get him down and he never let life's unusual turn of events wipe the smile from his face. Always with a kind word of encouragement for the students who traversed the Greenie halls, Professor Le was a fixture at this institution of learning, despite wearing a blue shirt and carrying a squirt bottle and rag. Now, twenty-four years after arriving in this country and after twenty-four years of faithful and hardworking custodial service, An Le is retiring from the FMHS staff. At 62, he well deserves it. But, he's not stopping there. No, that would not suit his tireless character. His retirement comes because he's been accepted, finally, into the Florida State University's doctoral program for mathematics!! His retirement party featured all the past principals under whom he worked as well as a variety of gifts - a letter jacket from the school and FSU gear with which to send him off. What I did not know about Prof. Le until I read the article in the paper was that during the war he served the South Vietnamese army as a Captain and later was held in a labor camp for three years. He fled to America after the fall of Saigon. So, to a man whom I remember well with great fondness, and who has my deepest respect, congratulations and three cheers! To the future Dr. An Le - Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

-R