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People Taking Action: 90-year-old cafeteria monitor makes a difference at Hampton school

Posted at 7:01 PM, Nov 12, 2013
and last updated 2013-11-12 19:01:41-05

It's not the most glamorous job, but someone has to do it.

Cafeteria monitors wipe down tables, open up ketchup packets for the kids while also monitoring their behavior.

The worker we're spotlighting at one school has no plans of slowing down. Armstrong Elementary is Hampton's oldest school and Reuben Price is nearly the same age.

Reuben Price turns 91 in a few days, but the retiree still shows up every day.

“Keeps me going. I like it, really keeps me going. If I sit down, it's over,” says Price.

He's been a cafeteria monitor there for the past 12 years which is why a teacher sent us an email.

“I don't know of any person at 90 years of age that still actively works on a daily basis. His action to work with our school's children has made a difference in our student's eyes and the teachers.”

Today, we honored him with a People Taking Action Award for his dedication. He also received a $100 Visa Gift Card from our community partner Southern Bank.

Price is battling emphysema and diabetes. So how does he keep going? He shared his secret with NewsChannel 3.

“Well I used to say what you do? You drink a lot of water and walk slow,” says Price. “But it's more than that. Working with these kids is the main thing that keeps me going.”

“Are you saying working with the kids keeps you young?” asked NewsChannel 3’s Kurt Williams.

Yeah! Absolutely. You'd be surprised the things they say to me,” says Price.