Every Wednesday is this grandparent’s day

   Kady Litwer’s grandpa has a pretty impressive resume. When he was a captain in the Air Force, he served as the executive officer to the Wing Commander of the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, which flew U2 spy planes.

   “It was such a secret with the Air Force,” said Bud Coon, Kady’s grandpa. “Planes took off and landed at night. They were in the hangar all day. No one in the public knew about it until Gary Power’s plane was shot down over the Soviet Union.”

   Coon said, “I was also there during the Cuban Missile Crisis. U2s took photos of Russian ships going into Cuba with missiles on board.”

   But that’s not all. For 26 years Coon worked for the Department of Defense in program analysis and evaluations. 

   “I started working under Robert McNamara and retired under Frank Carlucci,” said Coon.

   And here’s where we get to the best part. When Kady started Kindergarten at Arcado Elementary School, Coon started volunteering one day a week so he could have lunch with her and get involved with her in class.

   “I wasn’t ready to give her up,” said Coon, of his granddaughter who is now a seventh grader at Trickum Middle School.

   And no one at Arcado was ready to give up Kady’s grandpa when she left for middle school. 

   “The office staff asked if I’d stay and help out and I’ve been here ever since,” said Coon.

   If you ask Coon what he does he’ll say, “Mostly I watch the main entrance, take care of the signing in and out and make sure people have some business being here.” 

   With his history with U2s, I can’t think of anyone more qualified for that job!

   But Pam Martin, who just retired last week after 25 years as Arcado’s secretary has a lot more to say about what Coon does. “I don’t know what we’d do without him. He helps out with special events, works at our book fair, landscapes the front walkway and does all the grilling for our annual cookout. He’s like an extra pair of hands, doing whatever needs to be done.”

   And if you visit on a Wednesday and Coon isn’t at the door, it’s probably because he’s reading to a Kindergarten class. Kids can’t wait their turn to have “Mr. Bud” as they call him to sit down with them and share a favorite book. But his involvement with children and books goes beyond the classroom.

   “When children withdraw from Arcado, he gives them a going away book. He puts such emphasis on reading that he thinks there is nothing better to give them than a book,” said Martin.

   Wouldn’t it be great if every school had a grandpa like Mr. Bud?

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