In 1974, author Stephen King published his first novel, Carrie. Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in The Rumble in the Jungle. President Nixon resigned following the Watergate scandals. And Ruth Macias came to Northwest Missouri State to begin her 35 year-long career.
The feeling last Thursday at Macias’ retirement party was not that of regret nor grief, but more like relief.
“I’m ready to just do whatever I want to do,” Macias said.
Although Macias said that she is not really going to miss working payroll in the Finance Department, she sat with old friends, co-workers and just those who were interested to reminisce about her days here.
“Back in the ’70s is when mooning was really popular,” Macias said chuckling. “At the old library, kids would go by and moon the librarians.”
Northwest, now known as the computer, or technology campus, was not always named so. Macias can remember when it was fortunate to be deemed such.
“I can remember when we became known as the computer campus with computers for all the kids, and we didn’t have that before” she said.
Macias talked of food riots in the cafeteria, the ’79 fire in the Administration Building and changes that came along with the four different University presidents. The cafeteria, she said, was not as nice as what we have now with all of the choices.
“The kids said it was terrible,” Macias said. “They didn’t like the food that was prepared so they just get after them.”
Macias has handled the checks of four Northwest presidents and a number of employees, one of those being Grant Risk Management Analyst Nancy Baxter.
“Since everybody needs a check, she knows just about everyone,” Baxter said.
Macias has made many friends in her time here and many of them came to reminisce and tell her just how much she will be missed. Northwest’s Controller, Dan Edmonds was one of those many people who came to celebrate with Macias and wish her luck.
“Ruth was a wonderful employee,” Edmonds said. “For a good many years she has been very friendly and approachable.”
With 35 years behind her, Macias is looking forward to the time she will be able to spend gardening, visiting her children and just doing whatever she wants.
“She has been our little angel all these years,” Baxter said. “And she will be missed.”
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