Not everyone gets to meet the President of the United States. For Hudson High (right blue shirt), a Texas A&M graduate with a degree in industrial engineering, the opportunity was exhilarating and exhausting. He went to work at his job at the Ford Plant in Kansas City like he did every day. Except on this Monday, his boss told him he had been selected to meet and brief the President on the new procedures he had developed for the end-of-the-line process at the metal stamping line he works on. To add to the stress, President Obama would be accompanied by Alan Mulally, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company.
So, High, being a very well-trained Aggie, began preparing for his presentation to these two visitors. Sleep that week was fitful. Thoughts of “what if …” kept his stress levels high.
On the day of the visit, High went to work as usual, was screened by Secret Service agents, and awaited the President’s arrival. As is often the case when it comes to VIP visitors, the President was behind schedule when he arrived, and it didn’t help that he went to some waiving Ford employees before he joined the official party waiting for him.
As the President approached, a member of the President's staff informed the group that because the President was behind schedule, there would only be time for a photograph with him. But people in charge tend to make their own rules, so the President approached and started shaking hands. When the President shook High's hand he commented that High looked young enough to be a high school student. High reassured him that he was in fact a college graduate and named his alma mater. To which the President responded, “How about that Johnny Football?”
The presentation went out the door as the President and High discussed Texas A&M football. While High did not prepare for this conversation, his years of dedication as an ardent fan of Texas A&M football were enough to sustain the conversation for the President’s remaining time at the Ford plant that day.
While this event occurred last fall, a photograph reminded the author that it was worth sharing. High visited campus a few weeks after and shared his story with students.