We had a time yesterday on the OC campus to recognize and honor one of our own, Jane Neece, upon her decision to retire. As I perused the gathering of people, I saw Gary, who was Jane’s first “boss” on the campus many moons ago. Then it hit me: Jane has worked for every VP of Finance in the history of OC, for so long as that position/title has existed; all three of us. OK, maybe 3.00025, if you are a legalist on “time spent in the chair”, but who’s counting?
A photo op was definitely in order. You see, Gary entered the fray in 67′ followed by Jay…followed by me. And all three of us love and appreciate Jane, as the four of us do our University.
As mentioned recently in this space, we’ve been doing a lot of clean up and culling of files around the office. I found one of Gary’s first ever computer printouts of the budget from December of 69. He told me yesterday that all of that data had to be entered on punchcards.
Generations. December of 69: I was 3. And here we are, seemingly days later. And much has transpired.
No, we are not “The Three Amigos”, but neither are we “Larry, Moe, and Curly”, despite what some might say. Payrolls met, obligations juggled, budgets balanced, buildings built, hard decisions pondered, and mistakes made along the journey: all the while, a university was being forged and a family was bonding.
As I occupy the chair, circa 2011, I thank Gary and Jay for coming before me, and for lessons taught, and lessons I have yet to learn.
Generations: and all the while, God is faithful. And we are thankful.
