Mr. Fix-It — Clarence Catt retires after more than 20 years as the go-to guy for ICSU

Steven Devine | Argonaut Clarence Catt stands for a photo on the green roof of the Student Union Building. Catt played a large role in the construction and planning of the garden while also helping with plant installation and growth. Catt retired from UI on June 21.

Clarence Catt knelt on the floor, toolbox nearby, examining a broken hinge in the Yellow Room at the University of Idaho Children’s Center when a confused 2-year-old saw him and thought he was her grandfather.

Steven Devine | Argonaut Clarence Catt stands for a photo on the green roof of the Student Union Building. Catt played a large role in the construction and planning of the garden while also helping with plant installation and growth. Catt retired from UI on June 21.

Steven Devine | Argonaut
Clarence Catt stands for a photo on the green roof of the Student Union Building. Catt played a large role in the construction and planning of the garden while also helping with plant installation and growth. Catt retired from UI on June 21.

“Grandpa, I love you,” she said as she ran to hug him.

Catt played along, smiled and hugged the girl before she ran off to play.

“More than once was he called grandpa over here,” said Angela OConnell, director of the children’s center. “Clarence’s face just gleamed, just sparkled when he heard those words. She literally thought Clarence was her grandpa.”

Now Catt will have the opportunity to spend more time with his 10 actual grandchildren following his June 21 retirement from the Idaho Commons and Student Union.

Catt’s wife, Ann, also retired this month from her position as the museum curator for the Latah County historical society. Catt said together they will enjoy retirement.

“We’re going to just sit back, relax and see if we really enjoy the retirement life … and chase our grandkids of course,” Catt said. “I might even be able to take up fishing.”

Catt’s 10 grandchildren range from 5 to 13 years old and all but one live near enough that Catt and his wife plan to follow them to every sporting event and extracurricular activity they can.

“We’ll keep busy,” Catt said.

Catt worked for ICSU for 21 years as a maintenance craftsperson and is known as the go-to guy for anything that needs repaired, replaced, hung, assembled or moved.

Catt’s primary responsibilities were in the Student Union Building, but he also worked in Student Health, the commons and the Children’s Center — or ‘Baby Daycare’ as he prefers to call it.

“It’s fun to go help baby daycare,” Catt said. “The little guys, they come up and they help me out. I had some little boys say ‘My dad’s got tools like that.’ They’re always impressed.”

Throughout the years Catt has gained an extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of the buildings he works in. Through every renovation that’s occurred in the SUB or commons since 1991, Catt has enjoyed observing the changes and as a result, is often the only one that knows where to find things such as breaker boxes and equipment.

“(I’ll miss) his knowledge,” said Greg Tatham, assistant vice provost for student affairs. “He really has the operational knowledge of the building aspects of a facility. He’d been around for so long that when we were wondering about when something was done or where you find any piece of equipment, or if something was broken … when the last time it was repaired … you just went to Clarence and he knew all that stuff.”

Catt said the best part of his job was being able to see the changes — whether he agreed with them or not — and being able to help people out to make sure they got what they needed.

“I’ve done this a long time. I’ve kind of got used to doing it and I like doing it so I’m probably going to miss a lot of it. And I’ll miss the people that are here,” Catt said. “I like the fact that I can do a multitude of different things. I’m not tied down to just one thing. I come in and I don’t have any one set item I have to fix right now. I can go find what needs it.”

O’Connell said Catt was always the first person she called if she needed anything and he always did the job the right way, the day after she mentioned it to him.

“Instead of just making things work, he did it the correct way,” O’Connell said. “Everything was done right and he would just do anything that I would ask to help me. He brought a sparkle to the place when he came.”

“I always like the way it looks when it gets done,” Catt said.

Catt said he’s done his best to train the maintenance workers and pass on his knowledge, but after more than 20 years of service there are some things they’ll just have to learn on their own.

“I showed breaker boxes, panels, where things are kept, who to call when they can’t call me anymore,” Catt said. “They’re going to have to learn on their own while they go. I know they’ll do fine after I’m gone.  I did my best.”

Tatham said Catt’s positive, friendly attitude and willingness to help anyone is what made him a valuable contributor to the ICSU team.

“He really was customer service oriented,” Tatham said. “We called him our handy man.”

O’Connell said that in her mind, no one will ever replace Catt.

“I just wish he wouldn’t retire,” O’Connell said. “We could use him. We will miss him, not only the staff, but the children too. He really made a difference.”

Kaitlyn Krasselt can be reached at [email protected]

About the Author

Kaitlyn Krasselt ASUI beat reporter for news Freshman in broadcast and digital media Can be reached at [email protected]

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