Longtime Bradley Center, Fiserv Forum employees celebrate 30th wedding anniversary working Bucks game

Since opening just over four years ago, Fiserv Forum has been the setting of many monumental occasions: The Bucks winning the NBA title for the first time in 50 years. The NHL's first game in Milwaukee since '93. Legendary concerts, from KISS to Post Malone. Weddings and graduations.

And on Monday, it's where two of its employees — who started working at the Bradley Center in the early 2000s — celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Rather than going to a fancy dinner or on a getaway, they worked the Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons game. Milwaukee won, 110-108, their sixth straight win to open the season.

"We try to be as dedicated to our job," Hezzie Jack, 80, told the Journal Sentinel. "They've been good to us, so we try to do the same for them."

Jack works at the BMO Club door at the back of the atrium, where he checks guests' tickets and helps get them where they need to go. His wife, Linda Nation, 69, works in the arena's BMO Club, coat checking, scanning tickets and putting wristbands on guests.

"We come in together, we split up, he does his thing, I do mine, and when we're ready to leave, we go out together," Nation said.

Jack works just about every event at the arena. Nation said she mainly works Bucks and Marquette men's basketball games but also some concerts. The only game Jack recalled not working was one a guest treated him to for his birthday.

"We have to make sure we take care of our guests," Jack said. "(Linda) does a good job at what she does, and I try to do a good job at what I do."

"You just get to meet them, we love them and give them hugs, and just make the best out of that day and throughout the season," Nation said.

"It's as if they're standing at the front door of their own home, and greeting and welcoming people into their own home," said Jill Barry, director of guest experience for Fiserv Forum. "That's the kind of people that they are. That's the kind of familiarity and kind treatment that they give that people look forward to. There's a comfort there that gives the guests even more to look forward to during their visit."

Celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary

Ahead of their milestone anniversary, Nation suggested that they take a trip to Chicago or Minnesota.

"He asked me, 'Is there an event on that day?'" she said.

"I try not to miss one," Jack said.

"I said, 'You care more about the Bucks than you do me,' " Nation laughed. "So, we're working."

Shortly before Monday's game, Nation and Jack were announced at center court and Peter Feigin, president of the Bucks and Fiserv Forum, congratulated them there.

Both bigtime Bucks fans

Both Jack and Nation are bigtime Bucks fans. Nation said her dad used to take her to games at The MECCA and later, the Bradley Center.

During her shifts, she enjoys waving at the players as they come out. Her favorite? Khris Middleton.

And during the Bucks 2021 Championship run, both Nation and Jack worked every game.

Nation said she was able to watch the end of Game 6 of the NBA Finals in person. The Bucks won the title, defeating the Phoenix Suns, 105-98.

"I couldn't believe it," Nation said.

She also couldn't believe it when she and Jack were presented with championship rings. All Bucks staff who worked during the playoff run received a ring modeled after the 4.14-karat ring given to players.

"It was special," she said. "I thanked them very much for that."

They met at the church they still attend

Nation and Jack met at Metropolitan Baptist Church in 1984. And a church connection would later be the reason they'd apply to work at the Bradley Center.

Months after meeting, Nation and Jack went on their first date.

"We get along well," Jack said. "We have friendly conversations."

Jack was quiet and calm, and got along with everybody, Nation said. She appreciated how Jack, a father of 7, spent time getting to know her two kids. He would go to their sporting events and activities, she said.

The two married on Oct. 31, 1992. They had a double wedding with Nation's aunt and uncle, who chose the date.

"That's trick-or-treat day, Halloween," Nation said. "I never heard of a wedding on Halloween. So we decided to go ahead and go with that."

The ceremony was held at the church where the couple met and the reception was at a bowling alley. Bowling is something that the couple used to do together, Nation said.

Nowadays, they enjoy crafting and shopping together, and remain active in their church.

"It's fun, I can say that," Nation said. "We respect each other."

While their plans aren't set in stone yet, Jack said the couple is planning to do something special for their anniversary at a later time.

How they started working at the Bradley Center

The Bradley Center wasn't the first time Nation and Jack had the same employer.

They spent more than a decade working at Kohl's Distribution Center. Nation worked first shift in ready-to-wear and Jack worked second shift in shipping.

A woman from their church, who worked as a supervisor for the Bradley Center, insisted that Nation apply to work at the arena. The woman even started filling out the application for her, Nation said.

When Nation began working there in 2000, she expected it to be a one- or two-year gig. "It lasted longer than that," she said.

In 2001, the woman from church encouraged Jack to join the Bradley Center team as well. He worked in security and arena control.

Nation was an usher in a corner section, then later took on a larger area that included three sections. Over the years, she also worked as a ticket taker and a coat checker.

"I never lost a coat," Nation said.

She said she would try to memorize what guests were wearing, so that if they lost their ticket, she could still find their coats quickly.

"I would just go to the rack and pull it out and bring the coat to them," she said. "They would be looking like, 'You remember me?!' "

Jack and Nation have both been recognized as employees of the month at Fiserv Forum, Nation said.

"Both of them go out of their way to help, go the extra mile," Barry said. "They just have a strong sense of pride in the work that they do."

The people are why they've continued working at the arena

The people — both guests and coworkers who've become close friends — are why the couple has continued working at the arena.

"They kind of remind me of that famous quote, 'There are no strangers here, only friends you haven't yet met,' " Barry said. "That kind of describes them in a nutshell."

She called Jack the "unofficial mayor" of his area.

"I get to meet a lot of different people," Jack said. "I've made friends with, oh, hundreds of guests. Every time they come back, they come down and speak to me ... We have some really nice customers."

Barry said "scores" of guests go up to Jack to say hello, shake his hand and catch up on life.

When Nation and Jack are not working an arena event — which is rare — guests ask about them, Barry said.

"They're wonderful people," Barry said. "I enjoy seeing them time and again, each and every event ... I just really appreciate (them) so much, as do the guests."

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Fiserv Forum employees spend 30th anniversary working Bucks game