On the bottom floor of Helias Catholic High School, you'll find a door with a bright yellow, hand-written sign that says, "The man, the myth, the legend. Mr. Vossen."
Inspired by his teachers and the environment at Helias, Ron Vossen knew he wanted to follow in his teachers' footsteps.
"I really enjoyed the school atmosphere," he said. "I was involved in a lot of different things: student council, the sports program, drama. I just felt like this was where I was called to be."
He was especially inspired by his architecture teacher, Brother James Abell, whose mechanical drawing class led to his love of architecture and excitement for designing homes.
Vossen thought about being an architect, but he knew he was meant to be in the classroom.
"The classroom just really kind of took to me," he said.
Now, Vossen teaches his own mechanical drawing class at Helias and gets to pass on his love of architecture to others. He also teaches life skills, theater design, and design and construction.
In his 42 years at Helias, there has never been a day where he didn't want to go to work, and he has never considered finding a new job, he said.
"I kind of treat it not as much as my job but a vocation - and I enjoy it every day," he said.
Vossen said his greatest passion is being a part of Helias Catholic High School, and his greatest accomplishment is being there for 42 years.
"When I took this job back in 1979, I actually saw myself here for a long time," he said. "I really believe in the work that we're doing, and it's been a place that I really love. I'm just so fortunate to be a part of it."
Over the years, Vossen has also served Helias as assistant athletic director, assistant principal, coach and director of campus ministry. But his favorite role is in the classroom with the students.
"I enjoy being with the kids as much as I can," he said. "It's about the kids."
Being involved in theater since high school, Vossen can often be found behind the scenes of Helias theater productions.
He became the technical director for Helias' theater productions when he was about 27, overseeing the scenic crew's work building sets. He's now the production manager, coordinating and overseeing the productions.
"Being involved in the arts like that is exciting, and it's just a lot of fun," he said.
With help from his theater design classes, he designs, builds and paints props, and sets out of the various materials and old props stored in a two-story room connected to the gymnasium.
"It's been fun, and it's just another avenue for our kids to have some good experience with it," Vossen said.
He directed his first show earlier this month, Barefoot in the Park - one of his favorite plays - at Scene One Theatre in Jefferson City.
"It was kind of a bucket list thing, but now I have a fever for it," he said.
Vossen made his vision of the show come to life by putting in a lot of work building the set, casting the actors and directing the show.
"It was a lot of work, at times, but very, very enjoyable," he said. "I could not have asked for a better experience with it, and I credit a whole lot to the cast."
Vossen said his favorite part of his job is interacting with students and seeing their accomplishments after high school, especially those in architecture or theater.
"That's what keeps me motivated," he said. "When I see them out in the community and they've grown into responsible young adults in our community, that's what makes me proud. I can say, 'Maybe I was a part of that.'"