From working diligently in maintenance around the Mount’s campus to confidently reciting Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech for the entire community, Mr. Tyrone Macey is someone who explores many passions.
Students see him every day when he directs traffic, helps out in the halls, and works on many more projects that make the Mount what it is. But Mr. Macey does so much more than what we see, he is a friend, a source of encouragement, and someone who leaves a lasting impression on everyone he meets.
“He is a gift, he is a gift to the Mount community. His patience, his work ethic. He is gentle, he’s kind. The Mount is so lucky to have him,” theology teacher Mrs. Kathleen Ochs said.
Mr. Macey brings kindness and patience into any room he enters. He focuses deeply on his religion, drawing it into every aspect of his life.
“About 15 years ago, I started abiding by the Ten Commandments and once that happened to me, that’s when everything turned around because it’s not that hard to do, I mean, it’s only 10 of them… I really do believe those words did come from God,” Macey said.
Mr. Macey believes that his religious devotion is something that many people would be surprised to learn about him. Outside of the Mount, he is very involved in his local church community at Holsey Temple Church.
Religion and the church plays a major role in Mr. Macey’s life. He gets to contribute his talent in handy work to the church by helping out in a number of ways.
“At my church, I pretty much do almost the same thing here… So in my spare time, I’m at my church doing different odds and ends things. Whether it be electricity, plumbing, or trying to get people to come into church,” Macey said.
Whether it is his church or the Mount, Mr. Macey makes sure to bring his strong work ethic and outstanding kindness everywhere that he goes. Director of Maintenance Guy Petrucci said that Mr. Macey “comes to work with a smile,” making the working atmosphere welcoming for everyone and bringing a “calming positivity and pleasantness to the school.”
According to Petrucci, Mr. Macey is very thorough in his work and meticulously focuses on even the smallest details. He brings the same level of effort to any task no matter the size.
“Joyful, genuine and present” are three words that Mrs. Ochs would describe Mr. Macey with. He is down to earth and always willing to listen and help everyone, whether he knows them or not.
Every year students get to see the familiar face of Mr. Macey on stage theatrically reciting Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, consistently leaving the Mount community astonished by his extraordinary display of talent.
Mr. Macey went to Kutztown State University and graduated in 1982. It was here that he pursued his passion for Black history and theater.
In college, there was a Black history event and the people running it thought that it would be impactful to have someone recite the “I Have a Dream” speech. Mr. Macey volunteered, prompted by his communications major and speech and theater minor, taking on the task in an exploratory and in-depth manner.
“Once I started looking over the actual footage of when he did the speech, I got really into it,” Macey said.
When he performed the declamation, it went over so well that he has continued to do it to this day at various schools and churches.
Mr. Macey began the “I Have a Dream” speech at the Mount when it was brought up in a conversation regarding Black History Month. A teacher wanted him to do the speech for their class but he decided to make it a school-wide presentation. Everyone was so moved by this that he has been consistently performing for Black History Month ever since.
What Mr. Macey wants Mount students and the rest of his audience to take away from his declamation is to recognize the work that had to be done for African Americans to overcome societal burdens.
“Had it not been for Martin Luther King Jr., even though he was not by all means the only person to guide us to what we are now, he was the main catalyst because he spoke so well that everyone listened to what he had to say,” Macey said.
