The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Sixteen retirees – representing 291 years of service to Lamar University – received recognition April 16 during the university’s annual staff awards ceremony.

These staff members retired in 2012, listed with positions and years of service:

Obert Frank Blaisdell, assistant chief and parking manager, Police and Public Safety, 35 years; Daniel Miles Bowden, lieutenant, Police and Public Safety, 33 years; Martin Wayne Manuel, assistant director of utilities maintenance, Facilities Management, 28 years; Roy Kenneth Wilson, broadcast technician, KVLU public radio; 27 years; Stephen Russell, dispatcher, Police and Public Safety, 26 years; and Barbara Barr Merriam, teacher, Early Childhood Development Center, 22 years.

Other retirees are Helen Lack, director of student services, Academic Partnerships, College of Education and Human Development, 18 years; Debbie Faye Marshall, senior payroll specialist, 17 years; Mary Gagne Patton, director, Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities, 16 years; Rush Wood, assistant athletic director for media relations, 14 years; Peggy Earl, senior accountant, payroll department, 13 years; and Sharon Campbell Jones, senior administrative associate, College of Engineering, 12 years.

Others are George Bennett, senior electronic controls specialist, Facilities Management, nine years; Terry Steven Chism, dispatcher, Police and Public Safety, eight years; Ronald Wayne Peevy, director of recruiting and co-operative education, College of Engineering, seven years; and Preston Walker, supervisor of custodians, Recreational Sports, six years.

Also at the ceremony, Lamar presented the first Texas State University System Staff Excellence Award, honored five staff members with Distinguished Staff Awards and presented 110 awards for service ranging from five to 35 years. Lamar’s Staff Advisory Council hosted the event.