In the fall of 2013, the U.S. Army began construction of the new PX building at Fort Gordon. To manage and oversee the construction project, they called on retired Air Force veteran and civilian engineer Don Lemen.
In order to stay highly involved in the project, Lemen checked into IHG® Army Hotels, Ring Hall on Fort Gordon.
Other than the three-hour drive home to Charleston on the weekends, Lemen stayed at the hotel and came to be regarded by hotel staff as one of their own.
That being said, it was a somber day in July when the PX building project was wrapping up. Lemen decided that handshakes and thank you cards weren’t enough to repay the amazing hotel staff that he had grown so close to over the past two years.
Lemen planned a lunchtime barbecue for the entire hotel team at Ring Hall. “I wanted to do something special for the whole group,” he says. “The housekeepers, the maintenance guys, the supervisors and managers, everybody who made me happy in this building.”
As he prepares to leave, he reflects back on his time at the hotel with affection for the entire team. He has a special appreciation for maintenance manager Willie Nero, maintenance team member Debbie Blodgett-Ryan, and hotel manager Jackie Smith, who have gone out of their way to take care of him.
“I want to make one thing clear; they treat all the other guests the same way they treat me. They’re special people. Every one,” Lemen says as he wraps up his goodbyes!
Don Lemen will be missed at IHG Army Hotels on Fort Gordon.
