Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas will be losing four longtime employees in January 2006.

Bill Curtis, Ruby Hernandez, Georgia Keene and Bill McCoy are all stepping down next month. Between them, they have 115 years of experience at the tribal college.

Curtis has taught lasses in video and television production since 1984. "When I came here, I thought I�d stay three or four years and move on," he told The Lawrence Journal-World. "The next thing you know, it�s been 21 years."

Keener, who is Cherokee, first came to Haskell as a high school student in 1961. She later obtained a food service degree in 1964-65 and was hired to cook food in 1966. "I�ve been here 39 years," she told the paper..

Hernandez, Cherokee, has been at Haskell for 30 years and also works in food service. "When I came here in 1969, I was the first person in my family to go to a junior college, and in 1970, I was the first to graduate," she told the paper.

McCoy, who is Choctaw, has 25 years of experience. He joined the Haskell maintenance department in 1980. "Haskell has taught me everything I know. It�s let me support my family," he said.

Get the Story:
Haskell announces fourth retirement (The Lawrence Journal-World 12/9)
Haskell losing 3 longtime workers (The Lawrence Journal-World 12/8)

Relevant Links:
Haskell Indian Nations University - http://www.haskell.edu

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