His nickname might be “Grumpy,” but don’t let that fool you. Behind his tough exterior, longtime custodian Dale Hamilton is a Teddy Bear at heart.
“He’s a goofball and everybody knows it,” said his oldest daughter, Karrie Jolly. “He’s the biggest jokester and biggest prankster. If he teases you, it means he likes you.”
Friends and family gathered at OverTyme Grill in Waterford to celebrate Hamilton’s retirement after 42 years of service as a custodian for Clarkston Community Schools, April 28.
Hamilton, a Clarkston native and graduate, said he took the job in 1974 because he was laid off from General Motors.
“I had to have a job, so the school hired me and that’s why I started,” he said. “I told my wife at the time we’re going starve to death because it was less money, but we made it.”
Hamilton said both Clarkston and Pontiac Schools offered him a job on the same day, but he decided to go with

Clarkston. His father, Al, was also a longtime custodian who retired from Clarkston Schools as well.
“I guess my heart lies in Clarkston,” he said. “I was born and raised in Clarkston all my life until I moved to Lake Orion.”
Hamilton said he kept with the job because “the pay was good, the work was good and they treated you good.”
“It paid my bills and sent my daughters to college. It’s been a good job,” he said. “I had a lot of good times and the kids were fun.”
In addition to being a custodian, Hamilton is also an on-call firefighter with Lake Orion Fire Department for 34 years.
“I get a job and I stay with it,” he added.
It’s that dedication that has been an example to his daughters.
“It’s a rarity. You don’t find many people who work for 42 years for one company and in one district…I know he will be missed,” Jolly said. “He instilled in both my sister and myself a very strong work ethic and he’s the greatest. There are not enough good things I could say about him.”
Her sister Stacy Cary agreed.
“He’s always been an extremely hard worker and never complained,” Cary added. “He could go off of no sleep and just keep going all day and then come home and play with us. He’s just a good person and a good dad.”
Hamilton’s mother, Loretta, a cook for the Oakland County Jail for 29 years, said the hard-work ethic runs in the family.
“He’s a great son,” she added. “He’s always had money. He’s always worked, from a paperboy right on up.”
Lezlie Hallman who graduated with Hamilton in 1972 worked with him both at North Sashabaw Elementary and Renaissance High school said she’s known Dale for a long time.
“He’s going to be very, very missed. He’s a great guy. Nice family man who loves his kids and grandkids,” Hallman said. “He loves all the kids at Renaissance too, even though he’s pretty gruff sometimes. He’s an A1 guy.”
Director of Renaissance High School Christa Fons agreed.
“He does anything to help you and he has the biggest heart,” Fons said.
Former Principal Billie Pambid started working with Hamilton at S. Sashabaw Elementary and remembered no matter what it was, Hamilton dealt with the situation.
“We used to have a killer hamster and it would grab his finger or run up his leg. He took everything in stride and laughed,” she said. “He made really good relationships with kids, parents and made my life as a principal much easier.”
Pambrid noted how they would get compliments on their building all the time, because of how nice and clean it looked. She attributed it to Hamilton.
Fellow custodian Dave Merz said working with Hamilton was a blast.
“Never a dull moment working with him,” Merz added. “I consider him a good friend and glad he’s finally decided to throw in the towel and enjoy retirement.”
So what exactly is he going to do in his retirement?
“I’ll probably watch the grandkids more often,” Hamilton said. “Do that and spend more time hunting and fishing.”