Nineteen long-time Wichita State University faculty members and staff from varied backgrounds and diverse fields have retired this spring. Each person made unique contributions to the WSU community. Retirees were honored during a banquet April 13. Following is a brief list but a long, fond goodbye to those who will be leaving the university. An asterisk denotes faculty members who have been awarded emeritus status.
Marilee Bennett—After 19 years of service to the state and WSU, Bennett has retired from her work at the Rhatigan Student Center.
Harrison Boughton*––“Bud” Boughton has retired after 39 years as professor and director of choral music at WSU. The multi-award winner has often been recognized for his contributions to choral music not only at WSU but throughout Kansas.
Clark Britton*––Britton, a 41-year veteran of WSU with 43 years of graphic design experience, has always been interested in the discovery process of artmaking. “To have a job,” he says, “where I’ve spent my life involved in learning and discovering is almost like an indulgence.” He has been recognized with Addy awards and by the Smithsonian Institute, which selected one of his works for inclusion in its National Collection of Fine Arts.
Lora Burns—Burns retires from WSU with 15 years of work in curriculum and instruction.
Gary Crown*––This associate professor of mathematics and statistics has been with WSU since 1968, but retirement doesn’t mean his teaching work is complete. He and his wife home school their children, ages 9, 11 and 13. The author of numerous professional articles, Crown has also written a book.
Margie Dersi––This long-time director of ticket operations with the athletics department has retired with 26 years of state service to her credit. A native of Berlin, Dersi was honored in the Plaza of Heroines in 1998: “When people you work with honor you,” she says, “it means a lot.”
Catherine Freeman––Freeman, a secretary for the physical therapy department, retired Dec. 1, 1999 and moved back to Pennsylvania, her native state. She views her most satisfying accomplishments at WSU as organizing the department when she first arrived 12 years ago and building rapport with students and faculty.
L. Marie Haun––This 1944 graduate of the University of Wichita joined the university’s professional staff as, first, the secretary for the Center for Continued Health Education and then as secretary in the College of Health Professions dean’s office.
Dwain Martin—This equipment operator for on-campus parking has worked the past 16 years preparing and maintaining lots and beautifying WSU’s campus landscape. “I really enjoyed watching the university grow,” Martin says.
Dorothy Myers––An administrative assistant for the University Computing Center, Myers, who retired with 34 years of state service, has certainly seen how technology has changed through the years. She says, “We’ve evolved into an almost paperless organization.”
Tom Owens—After 15 years of state service, Owens has retired from his work with WSU’s custodial services.
Gerald Paske*––Paske, who served as philosophy department chair from 1972-78, published myriad scholarly articles and delivered scores of presentations on ethics and controversial issues during his 33 years at WSU.
Carole Porter—This office assistant for Media Resources Center’s administrative services department has mixed feelings about leaving after her 10-year career at WSU. She’ll miss the people she’s met here. “I really like the faculty, staff and students,” she says.
Larry Rector—Retiring with 33 years of state service, Rector has been an administrative officer for the vice president of student affairs. The experienced financial aid counselor is an avid supporter of lifelong learning.
Douglas Sharp*—Through Sharp’s leadership as dean from 1977-90, WSU’s business school improved and prospered in all basic areas of higher education: teaching, research and service. For the past two years, he has served as director of the School of Accountancy.
Lois Short—This director for undergraduate student affairs for the School of Nursing made a significant difference in the health care profession by training qualified nurses to enter the work force. Short retirees with 14 years of state service.
N. Dee Thompson—After 33 years of “evolving” with the computer industry and ardently upgrading technology on the WSU campus, this assistant director and manager for the University Computing Center retires with 42 years of state service.
Anise “Marie” Watson—Retiring after 11 years, this storekeeper for WSU’s chemistry department has proven to be a knowledgeable staff person well-known for running an efficient stockroom.
Bill Wilhelm*—The dean of WSU’s College of Engineering for 21 years, Wilhelm says, “Wichita and the university have been good to us.” (Watch for more about his accomplishments in the fall issue of The Shocker.)
