No hats on in the building and no coffee in the hallway.
Those are the two golden rules according to Joe Duffie, Tukwila Elementary School's long-time head custodian.
Duffie is retiring this month after 23 years at the school.
But he will continue on the Tukwila City Council where he has served for 28 years.
"The City of Tukwila is a great place," said Duffie.
Duffie says he joined the city council after the Terrace Apartments were built behind his home without any notification from the city.
"The city council is supposed to serve the citizens," he said. "We work for the citizens and we need to listen."
He and his wife will also still operate their business, "Duffie's Home Maintenance."
Duffie is not just the head custodian to the students and staff at Tukwila Elementary, though
"He didn't just clean," said Katrina Dohn, Tukwila Elementary School math coach, "He knew who the kids were, and the kids knew you didn't mess with Mr. Duffie.
"He was a disciplinarian and he motivated the kids to do better."
"Noon Runners" is Duffie's brainchild. He wanted to encourage physical fitness among the children.
"One lap a day around the track," said Duffie. "They get one sticker for each day they run, and then they can win prizes."
For students who have five or more stickers, they get to pick a prize out at the end of the school year. The student with the most stickers gets the "big prize." Each day students are given a small prize, such as an eraser, for running that day.
Duffie began this program in 1992 and it has been running strong since.
"I hope they continue this after I leave," he added.
Aside from his custodial duties at the school, Duffie also aids in the disciplining of the students.
"Joe was always willing to take the tough kids and motivate them to do better," said Dohn.
Dohn also added that the staff was just as accountable to Duffie as the students were.
She said coffee was not allowed in the hallway, and you were in trouble if you got caught or dripped some on the floor.
"Joe would have told President Obama to take his hat off indoors," said Dohn.
The school built and dedicated a coy pond to Duffie within the last couple years. It is called "The Joe Henry Duffie Memorial Pond."
Duffie was born in Hope, Arkansas-the birthplace of another successful politician, former President Bill Clinton.
Duffie graduated from school in 1962 and moved to Seattle. Here he was drafted into the U.S. Army.
He was stationed in Fort Ord, California for six months for basic training and began jump school at Fort Bend, Georgia. In Fort Brag, North Carolina he was in the 101st Air Bourne Division where he served in the Korean War.
He came back to Seattle where he was in the National Guard and worked in the Lockheed Shipyard until 1980.
With his wife Jacquelyn he has lived at his current address in Tukwila since 1969. They have three children and four grandchildren.
"He has lived history," Dohn said about Duffie.
She says he has talked to students about what it was like growing up as an African American in Arkansas before and during the Civil Rights movement.
It is apparent from the way the students run readily up to Duffie during their lunch recess to grab a sticker for the Noon Runners activity, that he will be missed at Tukwila Elementary.
Dohn said the staff and faculty will also miss him.
"The Out To Lunch Bunch" program created by Duffie for the staff was one of the many things, according to Dohn, that he did for his coworkers.
"He would go to staff members' homes to fix various things or he would fix a flat tire in the parking lot," noted Dohn.