BEAUMONT, Texas — There's a dynamic duo of Dowlen Road in Beaumont who are determined to spread a little joy while helping kids make it to class.
Larry Payne and Bobby Frank are two Beaumont school crossing guards.
"Some dangerous drivers out there... you've got to protect them all," Frank said. "I don’t know what that would do to me to see one of them get hit out here. I’d rather get hit than to see one of them get hit."
These two men don't need a stop sign to halt traffic on Dowlen.
"Wave at every car I can wave at," Payne said.
Payne and Frank like to slow down drivers with their smiles and waves.
"When the cars pass, we give our little wave... people wave back," Frank said.
For the last decade, this duo has been able to find their groove.
"We get enjoyment out of doing this here, because we love what we're doing," Frank said.
"People say, aren't your arms tired, my wife told me, one night I was waving at people in my sleep," Payne said.
"I've had kids that started in pre-school….and grown up and headed over to West Brook… so I get to see all the kids grow up and going to college," Payne previously told 12News.
Payne is the one who started the signature wave and Frank wasn't far behind.
"It makes me feel good….I get enjoyment out of doing it," said Frank.
Frank calls it the "Doctor's Orders".
"My doctors tell me keep moving around. Keep yourself active at my age,' he said.
Even at 87-years-old and armed with a cane, he's determined to keep working.
"I have to do it, because I'm up in age where to where so many things happening you go home and not do nothing… and I do as much as I can up here and up home," Frank said.
They've been seen in the summer sun and now in the cloudy winter, working hard morning and afternoon. It's clear these two crossing guards have a calling.
"Through the rain, shine, sleet or snow… we're out there… and we get an enjoyment out of it," said Frank.
Both men seem to be enjoying their part-time jobs and no one is even talking about calling it quits anytime soon.
“People always ask ‘when are you going to retire?’ I say, ‘I don’t think I’m going to retire,’" Payne previously said. "I’m retired, but I started doing this, and I just fell in love with it. Just trying to keep people happy.”
If you find yourself traveling down Dowlen Road during a weekday around 8 a.m., wave back at the two crossing guards. You may end up changing your route like other Southeast Texas residents to start your day on a lighter note.