(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Byron "B.O." Osgood).
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born on March 2, 1990 in New Orleans.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended school at Columbia High School (I'm a true Wildcat).
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I'm employed by the City of Columbia as a supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Department. I've been here about seven years and really love my job.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I used to work in the oilfield industry, both on land and offshore, and during the times I was home, I also worked part-time at a couple of jobs here in Columbia. I just felt like I was working myself to death, and I was looking for a change. A friend who was working for the city mentioned an opening, so I applied and got hired, and the rest is history. I never looked back.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment I get when I make the city and overall community happy by keeping our town clean, maintained and beautiful.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: The most challenging part of my job is handling the complaints I get sometimes from certain people who are perfectionists. My crew and I have a very high level of work ethic, but some things can't be totally perfect all the time. We're at the mercy of nature and the weather, so things like mowing and grounds maintenance might sometimes be delayed before we can resume our work. But some people don't realize that and think everything should always be immaculate.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career?
A: I'd say my most important lesson learned is to do everything right the first time. I'm over a crew of six guys and that's one thing I've always preached to them because this job has certain demands and requirements that we're going to meet, one way or another. So avoiding wasted time by having to re-do something is always the best way to go.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I always wanted to be a professional football player, but that idea sure went away fast.
Q: What was your first job?
A: My very first job was working at Popeye's Chicken in Columbia. I actually worked there a total of about six years, between full and part-time.
Q: Who is the person who has been most influential in your life?
A: The most influential person in my life was my mother. She passed away a few years ago, but she was, by far, the greatest motivator in my life.
Q: What is your spouse’s name?
A: I'm married to my wife, Britney Osgood.
Q: Do you have children?
A: Yes, we have two sons, 8-year-old Jaden and 4-year-old Jorden.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: My choice of a very last meal would be crawfish
étouffée.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Out of anywhere in the world, I think I'd really like to travel to Brazil.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I never seem to have much spare time these days, but when I'm not working I like watching absolutely anything that has to do with the New Orleans Saints. I am a true Saints fanatic.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: I really enjoy Columbia and Marion County because it's a close-knit and comfortable place that just feels like home. I'm able to live here and make an honest living, so we enjoy it here.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: If I could have lunch with any one person it would be with King James, whose real name is James "Uncle Man" Blackmon, but he was always affectionately known as "King James." He was always a real father figure to me growing up and it would be nice to see him again.
Q: What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
A: I'd say my biggest guilty pleasure is that I probably spend too much money on Saints memorabilia. Like I said, I'm a die-hard collector and fan of the New Orleans Saints.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: The one biggest moment that changed my life was when my mom died a few years ago. That was a really tough time, and it hit me hard. I was already grown, but it made me a bigger man.
Q: What is one thing you want to do that you’ve never tried?
A: I think I'd like to try skydiving. Jumping out of an airplane seems a little crazy, but it looks like a challenge. I'm really not scared of heights, but once I got up there, looking down from that high up might change my mind and make me regret it.
Q: Using one word for each, what are your top three defining characteristics?
A: I'd say the top three words that define me are: respectable, hardworking and responsible.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I would hope to always be remembered as a hardworking family man who loved to put smiles on my kids' faces.
— Danny O’Fallon
