FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 29, 2015

For More Information:
Glenville State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115

GLENVILLE, WV - With nearly 60 people in attendance, Glenville State College's president recently welcomed former employees back to campus for a Retirees Luncheon. The event, according to President Peter Barr, was a chance to honor those who devoted years of work to ensure the success of the college. "These individuals built the culture that lets our students know we care. I appreciate all of the things that they've brought to this campus over their many years of accumulated service," he said.

The crowd included recent retirees and some who had not been back to GSC in several years. Nearly every office and academic department across campus had representation from the group that assembled to reminisce and share memories. Many of the former professors and staff members who attended also were Glenville State College graduates.

Professor Emerita Dr. Sharon Kraus explained how she and fellow emeriti professor Dr. James 'Jim' Meads had been Glenville classmates before they went on to teach at their alma mater. "Jim and I were students here before we were teachers. Something that always stands out in my mind was when the new library was constructed when I was a student here. I can recall many people forming a line to the new building and working to transfer the materials," said Kraus. She said she spends her time these days traveling and spending time with her grandchildren.

Linda Riegel was a professor in the Division of Business at GSC for 21 years before her retirement. "Glenville has a culture about it. When I graduated, being a Glenville grad was a feather in your cap before you ever did anything else," she said. Riegel now volunteers her time at an elementary school library and runs 5Ks with her daughter, Taylor.

Many of the attendees held a variety of different positions during their time at GSC. Sherry de Rosset, for instance, retired from GSC's Robert F. Kidd Library in 2011 but previously served as secretary for the Business Department, worked in the Registrar's Office, and was originally hired as the campus mailroom and switchboard operator in 1975.

For some, retirement has become busier than day-to-day work life. Several have returned to GSC either as part-time/temporary workers or as volunteers for the college. Garry Kight managed the college Print Shop for 40 years and still left retirement to fill in part time when needed until fully retiring last year. Karen Lay and Carla Conley, the two most recent retirees in attendance at the luncheon, are staying in their previous positions on a part-time basis to train others in the Financial Aid Office. Professor Emeritus Harry Rich taught brass in the Fine Arts Department for 19 years before his retirement but he's now back and trains current students on the trumpet. Others, like Professor Emerita Yvonne King, volunteer their time to help the GSC Alumni Association.

Those in attendance included: Mary Alltop, Professor Emeritus Ralph Bame, Bill Bonnett, Professor Emerita Dr. Kathy Butler, Carla Conley, Dr. John Curran, Sherry de Rosset, Dennis Fitzpatrick, Dr. David Gillespie, Professor Emeritus Dr. Gary Gillespie, Professor Emeritus George Harper, Layne Jenkins, Garry Kight, Professor Emerita Yvonne King, Professor Emerita Dr. Sharon Kraus, Karen Lay, Wilda Kuhl, Brenda McCartney, Professor Emeritus James H. Meads, Eleanor Nicholas, Linda Riegel, Professor Emeritus Harry Rich, Professor Emeritus Phil Rossano, Professor Emeritus Charles Scott, Professor Emeritus Dr. Mike Smith, James Stalnaker, Professor Emeritus Charles 'Rick' Sypolt, E. Jean Weese, Doris Williams, Joe Wilmoth, and Ginny Yeager.

For more information about the Retirees Luncheon, contact Special Assistant to the President Debbie Nagy at Debra.Nagy@glenville.edu or (304) 462-6100.