Ex-janitor gives $25k to UM, $5k to J-School

By Jim Beyer
J-School Web reporter

photo by Scott Poniewaz

Al Price stops by the J-School to talk about prerequisites for scholarships.

A University of Montana alum who left a career in education and worked as a UM janitor for the past decade was so impressed with students here that he has donated $25,000 to be used for scholarships.

Albert Price chose to give $5,000 grants to the School of Journalism, the School of Fine Arts, Native American Studies, the International Program and the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling. Each school or department will receive $1,000 a year for five years.

Price earned tuition for six years of undergraduate study at UM by working the 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. shift on the “green chain” at the Bonner sawmill. After eight hours of back-breaking labor, he slept a few hours and woke in time for his 8 a.m. classes.  During several summers, Price also worked as a UM janitor. He graduated in 1964.

After years of living and working out of the state, Price moved back to Missoula in 1991. He tried to find employment in his field, which was education, but to no avail.

“Frankly, I hate to say it, but I couldn’t get a job,” he said. “I think it was because of my age.”

He applied for a job at the University as a janitor in 1994. “I couldn’t work in a saw mill anymore,” he said with a smile.

He cleaned a variety of campus buildings from 5 in the evening to 1 in the morning. Price was impressed with how hard the students were working — practicing music, painting and studying. He respected the late hours J-School students put in, both at the Kaimin and in the labs.

“Late one night, I found three girls sleeping in the slide room upstairs,” he said. “They had been working since I got there at 5.”

Now he seeks to lighten the load on some students, at least financially. He chose the five programs because, he said, they were “improving the quality of life for other people.” While he was cleaning up, he got to know what people did, he said. 

Price picked the J-School because he was impressed with the work that journalists do, especially after 9-11.

“Take Daniel Pearl in Pakistan,” said Price, referring to the Wall Street Journal reporter who was abducted and killed in Pakistan in 2002. “Look at what these people have to do to bring the news back here.”

During his time in the J-School, Price became acquainted with many of the students, staff and faculty. J-School Dean Jerry Brown was the only dean on campus to seek him out and introduce himself, Price said. The janitor was impressed by the smile and handshake he received.

Brown lauded Price’s work ethic as well as his gift.

“Al Price belongs in an academic community or any other community where people who are well-read and curious congregate,” said Brown.

In addition to the J-School, Price picked Native American Studies because his two best friends in college in the 1960s were from the Flathead Reservation. He donated to the School of Education because that was his career and his passion. He funded International Program students because he believes in what the department is doing.

“As I age, I spend more time on world affairs,” Price said. Finally, he chose Fine Arts because he likes to hang original art on the walls of his modest home.

Price was born in Butte in 1936. He joined the Marine Corps in 1954 and earned a master’s degree in education and counseling in 1968. Price worked as a counselor in the Missoula County School System until 1973. The oil boom called him to Alaska, where he worked on the Alyeska Pipeline and later taught school in Barrow. In 1989, Price took a break from teaching and helped clean up the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

After moving back to Missoula, Price worked as a janitor until he retired last summer.

Price says he did not work as a janitor for the pay, but as a way to keep busy. He enjoyed being on campus, amid the excitement of learning and the cultural events that the University offered. There was something going on every day, Price said.

“I wouldn’t have retired again, but for family reasons,” he said. 

Price can afford to be generous because he lives frugally. In 1993, he quit smoking after 42 years.

“I finally accepted that I am an addict,” he said.  He was determined not to be one, so he walked when ever he felt like smoking. Some days, he said, he walked 16 miles.

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