Adrielle McNeal

Sophmore Kevin Ortiz stands with securtiy gaurd and greeter Fred Martynuska during the moring security checks.

Fred Martynuska works as a security guard for the high school, and he has no plans of stopping any time soon. Before Martynuska got this position, he worked many different jobs, including at a railroad and a power plant. Then, he took jobs working with security at Penn State football games, before retiring. 

A few years into his retirement, Martynuska knew that not working wasn’t for him. 

“I got bored,” Martynuska said. “I needed something to do. It was either I’d sit at home or come here and work, and I’d rather work a little bit.”

So, he joined the school’s security staff. Although, that transition proved rockier than anticipated. 

“When I first got this job, I said to myself, ‘why did I go back to putting up with all these kids?’” Martynuska said. “But [this job] changed me. The kids, 99 percent of them, are respectful. They say ‘yes sir’ and ‘have a good day sir’, and that really woke me up.”

Despite his original hesitation for working at the school, Martynuska has become a staple at Altoona. Students and staff alike recognize him as a friendly and familiar face, so when he had to take a break from the job for his health, those he works with were affected. 

“It wasn’t good when he was gone because I missed him a lot,” security guard Bill Crawford said. “I was still learning then, and usually there’s two of us, so a lot of the time I had to do things by myself.” 

While Martynuska was away, the coffee cart raised money from cart sales and the district sponsored a dress down day to help with added expenses during his medical issues. In response, Martynuska released a thank you on the school announcements. 

“I appreciated it very much,” Martynuska said. “I didn’t even know what to say at first; it’s hard to put something [like that] into words.” 

Crawford was also moved by the initiative. 

“I thought about how nice it was, the outpouring of thoughts and prayers and the dress down days,” Crawford said. “I know that it all really helped him get back here, and I know he really appreciated it.”

Now, Martynuska is back, stationed once again at the main doors of the B building, where he greets incoming students and staff. 

“I knew I was going to come back,” Martynuska said. “I love the kids, I love seeing them grow up. That’s the best part.”