Walk into the Burnett Plaza office building in Fort Worth, Texas, and one thing becomes immediately obvious. Everyone knows Security Officer Mr. Clydale Robinson. But he’s not what you would expect from your average Security Officer.
Mr. Robinson is someone very special.
What Do People Leasing Office Space at Burnett Plaza Really Think of Mr. Robinson?
In a recent survey of office workers in Burnett Plaza, when asked, “What is your favorite thing about Burnett Plaza,” 20% said Security and 38% said “Check Check.”
But what exactly is a Check Check?
The phrase actually originates from this 40-story building and was started by one person – Mr. Robinson.
He repeats the phrase throughout the day, playfully reminding everyone to check for all their belongings before leaving. Phone? Check. Keys? Check. Wallet? Check. Badge? Check, check.
Even more importantly, Mr. Robinson reminds us to check on those around us. As several U.S. companies report employee burnout, experts stress the importance of human connection to mental health.
But he is so much more than just Check Check.
Posted at the front desk, Mr. Robinson’s bright smile is often the first thing people see when they come into the Burnett Plaza office building, and Mr. Robinson keeps watch, long after everyone is gone. Several employees have stories of Mr. Robinson’s reassuring presence on a late night. Ken Tarango, Senior Organization Design and Development Consultant, recounts picking up his car from the garage one night and being relieved to hear a familiar voice in the elevator. “Check, check! Is everything okay?”
But his presence means so much more to many tenants here. In fact, in an open-ended survey response, one survey respondent cited Mr. Robinson as the reason they chose to come into the office, rather than take the option to work from home. They went on to explain, “There are people who come in just to see him. People could easily take the tunnel to the parking garage but they specifically make a trip in front of him to say goodnight or say ‘Hi’ after lunch.”
Making a Connection and Changing Lives for Workers in Fort Worth
After 40 years in the security industry, Mr. Robinson knows it’s more than just a quick in-and-out job. Having been held up at gunpoint while at a former security job decades ago, Mr. Robinson knows how important physical safety is and how it feels to be terrified. But he also knows how important it is for employees to feel safe in their workplace, too.
That’s why Mr. Robinson keeps a vigilant watch on the security cameras. He knows that providing a safe space for people to succeed requires much more than just vigilance. “To be a security officer, you have to love all people,” he explains. “It ain’t just check, check. A lot comes with this job.”
And while safety for his tenants is a priority, his warm smile welcomes every team member at Burnett Plaza. In fact, many recall that Mr. Robinson was the one who ushered them into their first job interview at the Burnett Plaza office building in Fort Worth — but not before giving them a little encouragement.
“When people come in for an interview, it’s sort of like I interview them before they go to their destination. I tell them to go to the restroom and look in the mirror and just take a deep breath and say, ‘I can do this.’”
Communication specialist Megan Mendenhall remembers the difference it can make on the day she came in for her job interview. “He noticed that I was looking a little frazzled when trying to find the correct elevator bank and pointed it out to me. He gave me a quick pep talk and told me that he would see me again soon. Sure enough, I saw him again on my first day and he congratulated me on getting the job.”
A Humble Man – Recognized as National Employee of the Year
A person like Mr. Robinson should be recognized and celebrated. That’s why during Mr. Robinson’s time at Burnett Plaza, he was the recipient of the National Employee of the Year award. Both Allied and ADM have recognized his outstanding individual achievements in the workforce and we couldn’t agree more.
But Mr. Robinson says he doesn’t do it for awards or acknowledgment. When asked about the most rewarding part of his position, Mr. Robinson reveals that for him, the best interaction often comes by way of a bad day.
“My best interaction is when I meet a person and they need somebody in a difficult time. When I see someone, they cannot have a bad day with me. I will not let them have a bad day, and sometimes, they’ll just have to live with that,” he says with a knowing smile.
Security Guard Extraordinaire at the Burnett Plaza Office Building in Fort Worth
But it isn’t just the lucky people who work at Burnett Plaza, Mr. Robinson seems to positively impact every single person within his orbit.
Although his shift starts at 3 pm, Mr. Robinson is sometimes here until 11 and later. On those late nights downtown, he makes a point to check on the homeless to offer food and drink. He says that you can never know what someone is going through.
His propensity to bring joy to all even includes what he does in his spare time and even how he dresses!
For Halloween, he was a gangster. For Christmas – Santa. Of course! “I have a different outfit for everything that they have here,” he says proudly.
We know that Mr. Robinson wears a lot of hats – I mean, ties. But who is he, really?
Mr. Robinson laughs at the question. “Sometimes people ask me, ‘Are you a chaplain? Are you a doctor?’”
He’s referring to his volunteer work at Cooks’ Children’s Hospital before the pandemic. Last year, Mr. Robinson was able to deliver 61 teddy bears in Check, Check’s annual Prayer Bear drive.
Nowadays, you can find him at Texas Southwest hospital system, delivering water, coffee, and good company as he makes his rounds as a nursing assistant volunteer. He sometimes visits up to 80 patients a day, and he dresses up for that, too!
And when he’s not making his rounds, he’s making baskets. Mr. Robinson enjoys playing basketball twice a week before work.
The grandfather of 9 admits he’s been called a lot of things in his day. He’s a security officer, a nursing assistant, a volunteer, a basketball fan, and a man of faith. He’s a husband and a father. You could call Mr. Robinson a family man. Not just for his loved ones but all those who come into contact with him.
His motto? “When you treat ‘em like family, you get a lot of love.” Sure, a lot comes with Check, Check, but in an increasingly disconnected world, Mr. Clydale Robinson works to foster human connection, even on our worst days.
