Throwing in the roll
BHS head custodian retires after two and a half decades of service
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

It's a favorite saying of Brownsboro High School's head custodian, Margie Shaver. "If you've got control of the toilet paper, you've got control of the school." Having spent 25 years in control of the toilet paper, Shaver has passed the role on to Sandy Miller.

"I went here, I've got grandkids here," Shaver said. "Considering it's been my life, it's hard to leave."

When asked about her job description, Shaver simply said, "I ran the place."

Kenneth Wooten, principal of BHS, said he and Shaver spent a lot of time working together.

"She's been a tremendous leader and staff member at this campus," Wooten said. "She's been here since the beginning."

Herself having served through around five principals, Margie said she can remember when Wooten was a young lad.

"Now he's my boss," Shaver exclaimed with a laugh. Shaver announced her retirement at the beginning of the school year and has since been planning for it. However, when school began this year, Shaver started Miller's training.

According to Wooten, Monday, November 26 was officially Shaver's final day as head custodian. From there, Sandy Miller took over as head custodian.

"Replace isn't the right word to use," Wooten said about filling the position.

Shaver has been something of an icon to the school and those who work and learn there, Wooten said. She always took care of everything people needed.

"I can't say enough good things about her," Wooten said.

As for Margie, she claims there is life after Friday Night Football, and she aims to live it.

"I'm ready for retirement. It'll be nice to sleep in for a change," Shaver said.

For a woman whose job entailed constantly keeping the structure neat and standing, weekends are a new concept.

"I'll love having Saturdays and Sundays off," Shaver also said.

She and her husband, John, have plans beyond simply waking up at 10 on a Saturday morning.

"We're going to build a log house," Shaver said. "We'll buy a kit and build one."

Construction is just one of the things Margie plans on accomplishing in her newfound free time, she said.

"I plan to stay busy. Too many people retire and get sick, and I hope to beat that," Shaver said.

Of her past life, there will always be the memories.

"There were a lot of good kids in that school," Shaver said of BHS. "Every year was different for me."

While Margie said she can't recall any particular story off the top of her head, she claimed she will never forget her time at BHS, and Brownsboro High School will never forget Margie Shaver, the woman who controlled the toilet paper.