'Like the Glue' Post's EEO director retires after 40 years

By Demetria Mosley, Fort Jackson LeaderApril 21, 2016

Retire 1
Samuel 'Mike' Good Jr. urges the people who come into his office
to use communication to fix their problems. He keeps the
Rodney King quote 'Can't We All Get Along' as a reminder of
how important communication with employees and managers
is when it c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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He reaches for a worn out burgundy dictionary from the top shelf of his book shelf.

He has a clear mission in mind. The word is on the tip of his tongue, but Samuel "Mike" Good Jr. wants to make sure he's using it correctly; he didn't get the nickname 'Gets it Done' from not being thorough.

After shuffling through the pages, he finds the word and nods his head in approval.

"Melancholic. It's a great feeling and then it's somewhat melancholic," he said.

Good is talking about his retirement. For more than 40 years he's worked at Fort Jackson,

and has spent the last 20 as the Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity.

His job was to oversee issues pertaining to workplace conflicts, and he served as principal

advisor to 13 commanding generals on EEO issues.

Good said his goal as director was to make civilian workplaces on post harmonious and

fair. To achieve that goal he's conducted training classes, ethnic observances, and even created an

EEO newsletter.

"I have to applaud the command group at Fort Jackson because they've always been supportive,"

said Good. "And that's been dynamic and very important to me."

Good's time at Fort Jackson comes to an end April 30 and, although he will no longer be working

on post, his staff says his influence will stay behind.

"He has a reputation of moving and shaking," said EEO specialist James Tucker. "He doesn't waste any time. Sometimes we get a task for us to do and Mr. Good is going to have that report in, if not that day, the next day. His motto is get it done now because you never know what's going to come through the door."

Tucker keeps a handwritten paper tucked away under the glass top of his desk with memorable

quotes from Good. The one he often shares with people who come in for assistance is: 'You can have

your own opinions about something, but you can't have your own facts.'

Tucker thinks of Good as a mentor.

When he takes over as director, Tucker plans to adopt the same attitude as Good on EEO issues on post.

"When people come through our doors they say, 'Hey, we have an issue and can't deal.' One of the first things Mr. Good wants to know is, 'Has the employee received counsel?'" said Tucker. "Because a lot of time what it boils down to (in EEO issues) is good ol' fashion communication."

Good points to a bright yellow paper on the front of his cream colored filing cabinet.

On the paper is a quote from Rodney King. Good isn't particularly a fan, but he likes the statement.

"You see this thing right here? It says, 'Can't we all get along?' If we are coming to spend eight to ten hours a day together away from home, nobody wants to come to work miserable," Good said. "That's the key I always stressed to folks about communication. You might not like everything

I say to you as a boss and the boss might not like what the employee has to say, but we all have to come together."

Good said he'll probably spend his last day on Fort Jackson reflecting on his years.

After retiring, he plans to spend more time with his Family as well as traveling and

mentoring young adults.

"He was the foundation, like the glue that holds EEO all together. He is an irreplaceable person and he will be missed," said Timothy B. Gladders, EEO specialist.