Grover J. Andrews, UGA assistant vice president for public service and outreach and associate director of the Georgia Center, was named interim director of the Georgia Center on July 1, 1998, as Edward G. Simpson, Jr., Georgia Center director 1983-1998, became UGA's first Distinguished Public Service Fellow, with the Institute of Higher Education. Andrews will serve in that capacity until a new director is brought on board.

I've Been Thinking...

... about the People of the Georgia Center, in particular, the 11 individuals who recently retired after many, many years of service to the Center, the University, and the citizens of Georgia.

The Georgia Center is a large and complex place. It is rich in resources -- its imposing structure and fine facilities, the grounds and gardens upon which it sits, the "excesses" of fine foods -- all of which combine to create a quiet, reflective, and stimulating atmosphere that has come to be known as a "learning sanctuary"!

It is a good place for working professionals and all adults to come and update, enhance, and enrich their lives through continuing education. However, this learning sanctuary would be a hollow place in an empty space, and its effectiveness would cease to exist, if it were not for its People, the extraordinary individuals who give it breath and life, enabling the creation of learning experiences for all who enter its doors. Students, faculty and staff, groundskeepers and housekeepers, technologists, conference programmers and facilitators, and the many, many more -- totaling a sum of nearly 600 -- all equally contribute to the learning experience at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.

This group of 11, who are truly representative of the role and scope of the Center, retired in the past few months with a combined total of 225 years of service. They are Trudy Cain, Roger Comley, Jeannie Epps, Billy Guthrie, Bonnie Lawson, Anne Lee, Donna McGinty, Carol Shutt, Lamar Thomas, Wendell White, and Bix Williams.

Trudy Cain spent 23 years developing and implementing educational programs for family and consumer sciences and agriculturally related groups; Roger Comley as head of Hotel and Operating Services brought dignity and a touch of class to the entire Center; Jeannie Epps always offered a "helpful hand" to individuals seeking lodging; Billy "Mr. Fix-it" Guthrie was always resourceful for 28 years in keeping the Center "running"; Bonnie Lawson kept a "step ahead" in program development; Anne Lee efficiently and with grace cared for the Center directors and their guests; no idea or trend anywhere that had implications for the future of the Center ever escaped the watchful eye of Donna McGinty; Carol Shutt was always accommodating as she kept Program and Conference Development staff in calendar and on schedule; Lamar Thomas faithfully saw that all food, dining, office, and other areas were immaculate; foreman Wendell White assured that the Center was well maintained; and our ever-inquisitive plumber Bix Williams kept all systems flowing with efficiency and humor.

The Center has been blessed with Good People who are dedicated, loyal, and competent, each being uniquely capable to perform a specific role, each helping to create a quiet place for learning, each adding to the creation of the whole that is the Georgia Center.

What would we be if it were not for the People of the Georgia Center?

The 11 Recent Retirees, Their Years of Georgia Center Service, and Last Position Held

Trudy P. Cain, 1975-1998, public service assistant, Department for Program and Conference Development
Roger E. Comley, 1986-1997, associate director, Division of Hotel and Operating Services
S. Jeannie Epps, 1980-1997, assistant facilities manager, Department of Lodging Services
Billy Guthrie, 1970-1998, head, Building Maintenance, Department of General Services
Bonnie H. Lawson, 1980-1997, public service associate, Department for Program and Conference Development
Anne M. Lee, 1978-1998, senior administrative secretary, Director's Office
Donna L. McGinty, 1982-1998, assistant to the director, Director's Office
Carol M. Shutt, 1983-1998, administrative secretary, Department for Program and Conference Development
Lamar Thomas, 1958-1997, custodian II, Department of Lodging Services.
E. Wendell White, 1972-1998, maintenance foreman, Department of General Services
Harry B. (Bix) Williams, III, 1986-1998, plumber I, Department of General Services

Table of Contents

Web administrator:  webmaster@gactr.uga.edu

All contents copyright © 1998
University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education.
All rights reserved.

Last revised: August 3, 1998

URL: http://www.gactr.uga.edu/GCQ/gcqspr98/ibt.html