“Crossing guard!” a young girl with dark hair and a pink dress called out as she bounded across Section Street toward Edwardsburg Primary School.
Before ducking into the school, she took a moment to hug the man who stopped traffic and helped her cross the road safely.
Every day for the past 12 years, Jim Molnar would stand at the corner of Edwardsburg schools, stop sign in hand, ready to help children, like the child in the pink dress, get to school safely.
However, Wednesday, June 15, was the last day Molnar would don his reflective, neon crossing guard vest, as he retired with the conclusion of the 2016-2017 school year.
“I’ve got mixed emotions [about retiring],” Molar said. “But the time has come.”
Molnar was born in St. Joe, Indiana, in 1943. In 1963, he graduated from Edwardsburg High School. He then spent some time in the U.S. army before returning to the Edwardsburg School district as a custodian in 1975. For the last 12 years, he has served as a crossing guard with the Edwardsburg Police Department.
“His number one priority was always the safety of the kids,” said Edwardsburg Middle School Principal James Knoll.
Molnar said he has always enjoyed working for the school district and has found the work rewarding.
“I got to spend my 42 years with the kids,” Molnar said. “I’m satisfied. The good Lord kept me safe, so I’m happy.”
Molnar will be spending his retirement serving at his church, the Northside Church of the Nazarene in Elkhart, Indiana.
“My church needs me,” Molnar said. “I want to do the Lord’s work now.”
His favorite part of the job has always been crossing first-graders through fifth-graders, because he would develop a friendship with the kids, most of whom call him by his name, Molnar said.
“I had a guy one day say to me, ‘how do you love these kids so much?’ I just said, ‘well, I’ve got grandkids who are all grown up, so I kinda adopted these kids as my grandkids,’” Molnar said.
More than just the children, Molnar has developed many relationships within the Edwardsburg community including parents and school district employees.
“I’ve met a lot of good people in my time,” Molnar said. “It’s a big family here, at least to me it is.”
Molnar was certainly loved in return by the people of Edwardsburg. As he would stand out on the street, passersby would honk their horns and wave, and people who work in the schools had nothing but kind words to say about him.
“We could always count on Jim and his commitment to getting our students to school safely and with a smile,” said Principal of Edwardsburg Primary School Carrie McGuire. “He has served our community in a true Edwardsburg tradition with pride, passion and purpose. We wish him only the best in his retirement.”
Others within the school district also characterized Molnar as dedicated and caring, wishing him the best in his future endeavors.
“He’s an Eddie through and through. He’s just a wonderful person,” Knoll, who has known Molar for 14 years, said. “All my teachers love him, and he often got hugs and knew a lot of the children by name.”
During his last few days on the job, Molnar received many cards, gifts and baked goods from parents, kids and teachers thanking him for his service.
“He was obviously a well known and well liked guy,” Knoll said.
Knoll hopes that the next crossing guard will be as dependable and caring as Molnar.
“Jim never missed work. I think he only missed an hour in 10 years,” Knoll said.
As for Molnar, he wants to make sure that his successor always keeps an eye on the traffic always puts the children first.
“The kids are the most important thing,” Molnar said. “They’re the future.”