`MR. EMAA' GIVES THE ROYAL TREATMENT TO EVERYONE HE MEETS

Homer Yount is retired, but he works about 40 hours a week at the East Missouri Action Agency in Cape Girardeau.

Yount of Cape Girardeau has retired from two careers -- as chief hospital corpsman with the U.S. Navy after about 20 years and as a certified school counselor for 20 years.

Yount is a volunteer now.

For the past three years he has volunteered answering the telephone, handling the mail, greeting and assisting clients giving tours of the facility at 1111 Linden, and working with children in the Head Start program.

"I enjoy doing this," he said. "It still leaves me time to spend with my grandchildren (ages 4 and 6)."

Yount, who lives with his wife, Hazel, at 1824 New Madrid St., has been a constant source of enjoyment and inspiration for the clients and employees of EMAA, said Debra Hamilton of the center.

"He's here five days a week, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.," said Hamilton. "Now, that's a real volunteer."

Hamilton added that Yount gives every client and visitor at the center the "royal treatment," treating them as if they are the most important person ever.

"This has a tremendous impact on people he talks with," said Hamilton.

Yount takes his volunteer work seriously and "loves every minute of it," said Hamilton.

He is fondly referred to as "Mr. EMAA" by some who know him at the center.

Yount likes to talk about his past careers. During his 20 years as a hospital corpsman in the Navy, he had an opportunity to dine with President Harry S. Truman. And he attended one of author Ernest Hemingway's house parties in the Key West, Fla., area.

"Now, that was a real party," he said.

Yount also continues to do substitute teaching and is considering entering a doctoral program at Southeast Missouri State University.