"I've worked at Hamilton 25 years, but I sure don't feel that old," Dan Brown chuckled. "It's unheard of. People just don't work one place that long these days."
A short drive to Westmoreland where Dan lives (and the neighborhood where he grew up) found this ATH reporter admiring a house overflowing with "collectibles." The tour started in the driveway with his mint-condition 1983 Chrysler Lebaron and continued through the garage where a NASCAR tire is proudly displayed. Next it was into the living room where glass cases display memorabilia, tastefully positioned among family photos (including the newest addition – a grandbaby) and trophies. Finally, the tour ended in the "inner sanctuary" — Dan's room filled floor to ceiling, including closets, with collectibles.
Although an avid Yankees fan (his dad almost named him Mickey), Dan explained he has "always collected'Nolan Ryan.'" He has Ryan's rookie card, framed pieces of his jersey, hot sauce with Ryan featured on the label and personally acquired signatures. Why did he pick him? "He was already great when I started collecting, and I had a feeling he was going to be a top baseball player." Ryan proved Dan right by being the only player in baseball history to have his jersey retired by three different teams.
Looking around the overflowing shelves and stacked cupboards, it was clear that Dan is not only passionate about baseball but is an all-around collector and always has been. Peeping around signed baseball bats and balls are coins, model cars and Boy Scout "lodge flaps." When asked about those Dan laughed, "It's incredible that something I got trading as a Scout is now worth a lot of money on e-bay."
"Yes, I trade on e-bay," Dan reluctantly admitted. "It's the new American way. The card shows went down (in popularity) and I resorted to it. I really like to meet people and show them my wares. I guess this is like doing shows on-line." He said he doesn't currently have anything listed because of impending surgery, but is optimistic he'll be back in business later this year.
Dan still travels the country to do card shows and, as he jokingly put it, support his collecting habit. The shows provide not only the opportunity to sell but also to buy, and he said he learned the necessary skills from his grandfather attending Burton livestock auctions in Vernon.
"He was a farmer and his theory was 'buy one, sell two.'" He'd buy a heifer, get her bred and sell her for much more because she was going to have calf. Dan is proud to be passing his trading skills and business acumen on to his children, all of whom have worked shows and helped with his e-bay business.
His 25 years at Hamilton have seen some major changes. As always, sports are an important focus. Dan remembers the original ice rink (one of the oldest indoor rinks in the country). "It was damn cold, but it was incredible to be able to walk around the entire rink and look down and see the game." He remembers the first orange bowl, and said one of his co-workers had taken a video of Hamilton fans pelting the opposing goalie with oranges. They had joked about sending it in to America's Funniest Home Videos but thought better of it when it "got ugly."
Dan was delighted to be remembered by NHL player Guy Herbert '89 when he returned to campus recently. Ice hockey may be his first Hamilton sports passion, but basketball comes a close second. Dan recalls the building of the field house and speaks enthusiastically about players like Cedric Oliver '79 and Mike Marta '84.
"You have to be at Hamilton a while to get to know everyone," Dan said. "There are so many people who have given their working lives to the College." Dan pointed out that Shirley Croop has given Hamilton the most years of service. "She's still Mrs. Carter to me. She was one of the mothers in the neighborhood where I grew up."
All three of his children went to Hamilton's Child Care Center and had summer jobs at the College. His uncle was the cook for the DKE fraternity, and Dan still considers himself a "Deker." He is a painter and wallpaper craftsman for the College and feels he's made a difference to generations of Hamilton students.
"Hamilton's best resource is the people," he said. And that certainly includes people like Dan.
