“I Will be a Bobcat Forever”
Longtime Counselor Troy Bomgardner
Bids Adieu

by Fred Hernandez
Everything has a beginning and an end. For Troy Bomgardner it began in Kansas, where he lived with his family. His parents, who were living in Colorado, suggested he move the family closer to them. Happily accepting the invitation, he started looking for work before making the move. With the right qualifications, he readily found employment with the local school district and made his move to Custer about thirteen years ago. 
His three children attended Custer County School while Troy worked as football coach and student counselor. Two of the young Bomgardners have now graduated and moved on. His youngest graduates from high school this school year. For Troy, this moment seems just right to make his parting move. He has decided to end his days in academia.
Over the last decade, the school district has had its share of good times, successes and challenges. Throughout those times however, Troy has always remained steadfast in his commitment to the school children as a most dependable counselor for thirteen years and football coach for nine of those years. He will be remembered as one who instilled a positive influence on the youth of the county during his tenure at the school district.
Aside from his many day-to-day responsibilities, his contributions include involvement in writing two grants that gained for the school a cool one million dollars. One grant for $400K was dedicated for a counselor for the elementary grades and a second one for $600K
was for substance abuse prevention.
Together with other staff, Troy helped in the development of the Early College Program which features concurrent enrollment for kids in high school to simultaneously take college courses. This saves them much valuable time after  high school and is one of the programs Troy is most pleased about. He truly enjoys helping kids get ready for the adult world they will face soon after high school. The positive impact on a young person’s life is one of the satisfying rewards of his work. On the other hand, it is truly emotionally difficult, Troy admits, to watch a student make poor choices. What he will miss the most is the relationships he has forged with members of the school staff and the young ones he has met and worked with over the years. Throughout all, Troy’s strong Christian faith drives his basic attitude towards the successful relationships he has with most everyone he comes in contact with.
About seven years ago Troy started a little part-time project, more as a therapeutic endeavor, which he enjoyed very much. It is a painting business called Blue Skies Painting. In this activity he immediately sees the fruit of his labor and can take pleasure in the finished product. If he paints for a client he might be complimented for doing a good job. In comparison at school, most of the time, one does not see the end product because after graduation the young person is gone. Most graduates will leave the area for college or jobs and may not be heard from for years, if at all. For someone like Troy who develops close ties with the youths he counsels it can cause a certain disquieting feeling not knowing what may have become of some of his students.
As the time draws near for his exit from the school district, Troy reminisces the many good things he has experienced working in a small community like Custer. He always wanted to work in a small town where one can get involved and make positive contributions that make a community stronger and better. He will continue to live and work in Custer County for the foreseeable future as he plans to turn his once part-time project, Blue Skies Painting, into a full-time business.
But even as he moves on to new beginnings, Troy says firmly “ I will be a Bobcat forever”. No doubt the Bobcats will miss their Student Counselor, Coach Troy.
We wish Troy Bomgardner the very best in all his future endeavors.