BY LAURYN BECKER
Photos Courtesy Troy Keller
Students, faculty, and community members in Hays enjoy going to all of the sporting events that Fort Hays has to offer, but do you know who is in charge of making sure each facility is in perfect condition come game day?
Meet Troy Keller, the Operations Manager for all of Fort Hays’ athletic facilities. Keller, a Hays local and Fort Hays graduate, has been the Operations Manager for a little over four years and recently accepted the position as Operations Coordinator for Beach Schmidt Performing Arts Theatre.
“I grew up here in Hays. I attended FHSU back in ‘95 and ‘96. My wife and I enjoy biking and traveling. We also have four cats and enjoy hosting friends and family,” Keller said.
Keller’s main inspiration in his life are his coworkers at the university. Working with them has brought ease to his job and all contribute to the success of maintaining the athletic facilities.
“What inspires me are my fellow coworkers and their tenacious drive. The people who have inspired me the most are: Dixie Balman for being compassionate. Matt Cook for being on my side. Luke Depenbusch for his supportive nature and constant work drive. The commencement team for making giant obstacles as fun as they could be. And in this I truly appreciate you all,” Keller said.
However, Keller reserves his biggest thanks for his team members: Randy Dreiling, Jim Dechant, Charlie Dreiling, Becky Kuhn, Jordan Flegler, Susan Relaford, Angela Smitherman, Michele Gallagher and Michael Berens.
“You all have persevered under great pressure this year. You are and were the front line to the COVID pandemic. Even in our hiring freeze and with our staff diminishing you fought through all of the incredible demands and came through the other side victorious,” Keller said. “Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for your dedication. May you all be richly blessed and rewarded for all that you have given.”
Keller says the best part of his job is working with people. Keller enjoys the in-person aspect of his job and continuing to foster relationships within the university and community as well.
“It isn’t the work. It’s the people. It’s always been about the people,” Keller said.
When asked what his passions are, Keller put it simply: God, people, music, and nature.
“One of the beautiful avenues about FHSU is that you can find exactly what you’re passionate about as you discover yourself and develop your skills and talents. Those talents and skills can lead you to exactly what you’re looking for if you strive for it,” Keller said. “As for my passions. God is the center of my family. We are drawn closer to God through the love of his son. My wife and I absolutely love people. Our hearts are drawn to a lot of outreach programs that assist others in need.
“Music is very important in our lives. Both my wife and I are singers and love to perform musicals, choirs and perform over the holidays. Our love of nature has contributed to our love to travel. We are very nomadic and love to embrace the serenity and stillness of nature. We find it to be very relaxing and rejuvenating.”
Keller has continued to be a light at Fort Hays for many in the faculty, staff, and students through his drive to make Fort Hays an even better place through his work as Operations Manager. To Keller, what it takes to be a Tiger is putting in the hard work and continuing to improve the community of Fort Hays by working together.
“[To be a Tiger is] To strive for a better quality of life. To rally with one another. To see our unified potential and achieve it,” Keller said.