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THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY

Posted: Wednesday July 25, 2007

Thank You! For Your Years of Service to the University

July 13, 2007 — At a special dinner on May 30, held for the first time in many years under a tent on the Grounds of the University, 309 employees were honored for their 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years of service. When tallied, their years of service totaled 9,200 years. Employees celebrating their 10, 15 and 20 years of service were recognized in a ceremony at Newcomb Hall Ballroom on May 22. Among the individuals being recognized on May 30 were five whose service to the University totals 235 years. Their profiles follow.

George F. Ford Jr. began his employment at the University Health System 45 years ago, first in the psychiatric department, where he stayed for 18 years. Since then, he has been an important part of the operating room team as patient care tech. Ford has been described as efficient and helpful, someone who pays attention to detail, and a great assistant to the nursing staff.

Jennie H. Wilson attended the University’s School of Radiology from 1954 to 1956; after getting married and spending time raising her two children, she resumed her career at the University in 1965. Over the years, she worked her way up to chief technologist in radiology, a post she held until the mid-1990s. Though she is retired from full-time employment, Wilson still works part-time and is celebrating her 45th year with the University. “I love my job, and I love the people I work with,” Wilson said. “Not only do I love radiology, but I enjoy working with patients and making them feel at ease.”

Harriett N. Lee graduated from the University’s School of Nursing in 1961 and began working in the operating room the following year. She has held many positions over the years, and now, 45 years later, she is the head of service for urology, a position she has held since 1992. Lee reminisced about her first few years of work, and how she and her husband were living in New York at the same time. Since her husband traveled internationally, Lee would commute between Charlottesville and New York—trips she made for two years. “In the early years that I worked, we didn’t have a very large staff, so it was sort of like family,” Lee said. “I like the part of my job where I get to mentor new people and teach them not only about the OR, but about urology.”

A. W. “Gus” Norvelle started his career at the University in the chemistry department as an instrument maker in 1952. He made research instruments and was also asked to make parts for other areas such as radiology and cardiac catheterization. In 1965, Norvelle was approached about learning to service microscopes. He was interested, so he traveled to New York for training. Since then, he has serviced 300 microscopes for the Medical School each year. Colleagues have said of his work, if you can describe it, Norvelle can build it. Though he has trained four other employees to succeed him, Norvelle still comes in to repair microscopes when needed and is celebrating his 50th year of employment at the University.

George W. Turner graduated from the University with a bachelor’s degree in 1954 and a Master’s in Education in 1956, and is currently enjoying his golden anniversary as a University employee. He began his career in the clinical chemistry department of the medical laboratories, and remembers how all laboratory tests used to be done manually, sometimes taking all day to complete. Turner has seen many changes in technology over time, but he has been described as one of the most careful and accurate laboratory techs there. Though he retired in 1989, he works part-time and said he still enjoys the interesting work, which he hopes to continue for a while.

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WELCOME FACULTY!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY

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