WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Social media has buzzed for the past 24 hours with pictures of the beloved doorman of the Greenbrier Resort who died this week. Frank Mosley had worked at the Greenbrier for the past 60 years and was one of the most memorable figures of every guest.
“To a lot of people the Greenbrier can be very intimidating with its reputation of being very formal, elegant, and expensive. Some folks when they drove up I don’t think they knew what to expect, but when you saw Frank, he was smiling, he was welcoming, and opening the door for you. He was able to tell you to relax, you’re going to enjoy yourself here at the Greenbrier,” said Bob Conte, historian of the longtime resort in White Sulphur Springs.
Since word of Frank’s passing, thousands of former Greenbrier guests have posted pictures of themselves and Frank in his signature long, red coat and hat to Facebook Twitter, and other sites.
“It seemed once we had the cell phone camera, it became a ritual. He took pictures with all sorts of people and they’re posting them on Facebook,” Conte said on MetroNews Talkline.
According to Conte, Mosley came to work at the Greenbrier in an unusual way. He lost his job in the coal mines in his native Fayette County and came to the resort seeking a job. He came every day and was always told there were no openings. He returned every day to ask again. He was finally told there was a temporary opening and he could fill in for a person in housekeeping who was on vacation for two weeks.
“He worked the two weeks and just kept coming back,” Conte said.
On the occasion of his 50th anniversary at the resort, Mosley told the story and explained he had never been officially told he had a permanent job at the Greenbrier.
Mosley’s impact on guests was huge, but his impact on fellow Greenbrier employees was also long standing according to Conte. Although he could have retired many years ago, Mosley kept coming to work. He had been relieved of the heavy lifting of luggage at the entrance, but continued to open doors, shake hands, and greet every guest with a smile and a warm welcome.
“That really had an impact on the rest of the staff just to see his stamina and his dedication,” he explained.
Conte said Mosley was in his 90’s when he died this week. He started working at the Greenbrier in 1959–the same year construction began on the famous nuclear bunker to house Congress in the event of a nuclear attack.
“The bunker and Frank Mosley are the symbols of the Greenbrier nowadays,” he added.