Steven Mosher’s day began as any normal day at the Amarillo Civic Center – bright and early around 7 a.m.
It was the morning of October 14, and Mosher, a Building Attendant II at the Amarillo Civic Center (ACC), was preparing the U.S. flag to fly high in front of the ACC when he noticed a young boy walking to the front doors.
“He looked lost,” Mosher said.
It was at this point that Mosher and his fellow employees Gerald Riddlespurger (Building Attendant I) and ACC Assistant General Manager Christoper Post also spotted the child and realized this was not going to be a normal day.
“I can’t say that we have ever had anything happen like this right out of the blue,” said Post, who has been with the City of Amarillo for 18 years.
“It was obvious this little boy was not where he was supposed to be,” Riddlespurger said.
In what could have been a dangerous situation for the child, the trio dropped what they were doing and brought the child inside the ACC.
The child had special needs and was not able to answer questions such as his name, any information related to his parents or how he got to the ACC on a school day. Speaking of a dangerous situation, the child had been walking on Buchanan Street – the busy thoroughfare in front of the ACC.
“He had been walking in traffic on Buchanan Street,” Post said. “That is not a good situation.”
The child did not appear to be in distress, other than being lost.
“We tried talking to him, but he would just repeat what we said,” Post said. “We asked him if he wanted to come in out of the cold and he took my hand and came into the box office.”
“He was in a playful mood,” Riddlespurger said. “He was a very kind little boy.”
“He did not look injured or in bad shape at all,” Mosher said.
Once the young child was safely inside the ACC, 911 was called. The trio kept the boy entertained until the Amarillo Police Department arrived.
“Everything he had on was brand new and he looked healthy and in good shape,” Post said. “I was thinking to myself – someone is looking for this young man.”
As it turns out, someone was. APD was able to locate family members, and he was returned safe and sound.
After APD responded, Post, Mosher and Riddlespurger monitored social media posts to check on the boy’s status.
“We definitely were happy to find out he was safe and returned to his family,” Post said.
There are times when ACC employees help lost children at events, such as kids who become separated from their parents, but nothing like this.
“We have had instances where we have to call the police because a young girl had a ride after a hockey game, but the ride did not show up,” Post said. “We stayed up here with her until midnight.
“But this was a first, and we were glad to help.”