By Lety Laurel Photo by Jennifer Klein Her white, impeccably styled hair suggests age, but her sharp, and sometimes naughty, wit is that of a 20-year-old. From her canary yellow business jacket and flashy belt to her tasseled, wooden-heeled shoes, she is the embodiment of a lady. Lady Korski, 86, a residence hall receptionist, has worked in Brachman and Wiggins halls for 22 years. She was recently recognized by Chancellor Michael Ferrari for being the oldest employee on campus, but she said her daily interaction with students has kept her young.
Working in the residence halls may help keep Korski young, but the students also reap the benefits, said Madeline Reedy, a senior psychology major. "If you just look at her, she looks like this amazing woman who has it all together," Reedy said. "But if you talk to her, she tells the craziest stories. She's done so many things, and she's not ashamed of them. She gives the message that it is OK to embrace life and have fun." Dottie Cruz, hall director of Wiggins, said Korski's on-going relationships with former and current residents is testament to her contribution in the halls. "She has really reached out and touched students' lives," she said. "Lady is so approachable. She greets everyone. And at least once a week she has students that come to have lunch with her. They really want to be with her." Reedy said although she no longer lives in Brachman, she still visits with Korski regularly because she is a positive influence on her life. "I go through Lady-withdrawls when I haven't visited with her at least once a month," Reedy said. "I need my Lady-fix." Known for her sense of humor, Korski carries a supply of jokes, which are written down and tucked into her purse. "People everywhere come to me and give me their jokes," she said. "I only like them if they are clever. They can be naughty, but they must be clever." Inez Ferrill, a receptionist for Colby Hall, said she has known Korski for more than 20 years and has never seen her without her jokes ready. "I don't know where she gets them, but she's always had jokes as long as I've known her," Ferrill said. "She's a very lovable person. She's done such a good job all these years, yet we still have a lot of fun. She'll keep you laughing." However, it is more than an excellent sense of humor that makes Korski good at her job, Cruz said. "She's fun to work with, but she's also extremely thorough," Cruz said. "She doesn't miss a beat. She stays on top of everything she does." Korski said she is often surprised at the stories she hears from the residents. "They tell me things they wouldn't tell their mamas," she said. "But I tell them things about my days growing up." Korski was born during World War I in Floydada, Texas. The town was so small that it did not have an elementary school. She did not attend school until she was 8 years old. "My mom and father owned the first motion picture place in town, so I learned how to read from reading the captions in the silent movies," she said. Korski moved to California and began her formal education. She eventually attended San Diego State College for a year but quit school when she got married. What followed is a life full of adventures, including piloting her own plane and flying throughout the continent, acting in the Pasadena Playhouse, working for Neiman Marcus and finally, becoming a receptionist for two residence halls. Ryan Bills, a sophomore premajor, said he visits with Korski daily. "I think she's one of the most wonderful women I've ever met," Bills said. "I feel good when I'm around her. She's just one of the exceptional people you meet." But Korski said she is the one who is lucky. "It's to my advantage to work here," Korski said. "I'm the one that's having fun." The downfall to her job is seeing her students - her friends - leave after graduation, she said. "I never like it when they leave," she said. "It hurts my feelings." Reedy said after graduation, she will remember Korski for the impact she has made in her life, as well as her stories of nude beaches and Mexican bars. "As I grow older, I'll take away all her stories and my memories of her and her ability to glow," Reedy said. "I'll remember her standing in the doorway, just waiting for someone to talk to her. There are only a few people that touch your heart, and she is one of them. She has made an impression on who I am, what I want and who I want to be. No matter where I am, I'll always carry her with me."
Lety Laurel
By Priya Abraham Photo by Jennifer Klein Donna Behl doesn't have to peg a 20-minute time limit on patients or fill daily quotas any more. After 20 years as a nurse practitioner in the Air Force, she now treats and advises female TCU students on gynecological issues. "The difference in pace is incredible," she said. "Through the years, I've gotten to know some of these girls very well." Behl said she wanted to be a school nurse after retiring as a lieutenant colonel from the Air Force in 1992. She said John Terrell, director of the Health Center, called her to ask if she wanted to work at TCU. "It was perfect," Behl said. "I can't tell you how excited I was - my job found me." Behl sees about a dozen patients each day and advises them on everything from contraceptives to breast examination to sexuality. "I like being involved in young people's lives and teaching women about their bodies," she said. "It seems so much more rewarding (now) that I have the time to spend and educate." Stephanie Jones, a senior marketing major, said the best word she would use to describe Behl is "caretaker." "In general, she's a big name in females' lives on campus," she said. "She's not condescending or critical about anybody's decisions." As a nurse in the Air Force, Behl worked on bases in California, Florida, Turkey and Texas. She said she doesn't miss the hectic schedule of her former job, where she was on-call 24 hours a day. Behl said she likes being available to help students in crisis. "Around here, (sexually transmitted diseases) are a crisis," she said. "In the military, you had to go to the emergency room because if we were booked, we couldn't fit you in." Pam Stuntz, a graduate student in psychology, said she has sent many students to be treated by Behl. She described Behl as down-to-earth and knowledgeable about women's issues. "She's very good at adapting to what the patients need," she said. Bert Franks, a doctor at the Health Center, said the response to having a female nurse practitioner at the center has been excellent. "Donna had a lot of years training (in the Air Force)," he said. "A person with (her) background just fits right in."
Priya Abraham
By Priya Abraham Photo by Jennifer Klein Circle after circle after circle. Driving the Frog Shuttle between the Student Center and Worth Hills involves 12 trips in the morning for bus driver Michael Albright. "I don't get bored looking at that same tree every time I pull up and park because it's beautiful," said Albright, pointing at a live oak opposite Foster Hall as students board the shuttle. "Time passes real fast because I'm busy and always driving." Albright is one of three bus drivers who ferry students back and forth between the Student Center, Worth Hills and east campus. His work starts at 6:45 a.m., when he picks up his bus at the Fort Worth Transportation Authority's bus terminal downtown. The "T" runs the university's Frog Shuttle service. "I have to sign in on or before 7," he said. "If I'm one minute late, I get a miss-out."
The bus is relatively empty at this time of the morning, with only two or three students riding to main campus. Outside the Student Center, a student steps on the bus and tells Albright her 9 a.m. class was canceled. He laughs. "You could have been sleeping all this time," he tells the harried student. When she gets off at Worth Hills, Albright explains that she had mistakenly woken up too early for her class, returned to her hall and come back to campus later only to find her class canceled. "I like to drive the bus for TCU," he said. "Everybody's real nice and friendly." Albright has worked for the "T" for almost nine years. He has driven almost every bus route in Fort Worth. "I like to be outside, but I'm protected from the elements (in the bus)," he said. "I've got heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer." Albright said he has few dislikes about his two routes on the TCU campus. "I love everything about here except the speed bumps (in Worth Hills)," he said. He also said the 15-minute limit for trips between Worth Hills and east campus is difficult to keep. "They really need to make it 20 minutes - it's too tight," he said. As students disembark back at the Student Center, thanking him for the ride, Albright wishes them a good day. He said this route - officially called run 321 - is his favorite of all the ones he has driven.
Priya Abraham
By Lety Laurel Photo by Jennifer Klein When Marshall Gordon began working for TCU as a housekeeper 11 years ago, he expected to find another job within six months to a year. Now, the assistant supervisor and acting supervisor of housekeeping in Worth Hills said he wouldn't mind eventually retiring from TCU. "I have fun at work, and I will continue to have fun," he said. "I tell myself, 'I'm here. I might as well do what they have asked me to do.' If I get to the point that I don't like what I'm doing, that's when I need to quit."
"When we got married, I thought she was the lucky one," he said. "Now I know that I'm the lucky one." Gordon worked for the Miller Brewery for 15 years before he was laid off. He was encouraged by a friend to work as a housekeeper for Worth Hills. "I came out here and, honestly, I stayed because I'd rather be here than at home," he said. "I had no intentions of staying here. But it didn't turn out that way." One year turned into 11, and with increased seniority came increased benefits, he said. "The pay will hopefully increase, but the benefits is the reason for people to come and stay," he said. "Even without more pay, I would stay. The retirement package would be the reason because that's what I'm thinking about now." After working eight hours a day in Worth Hills, Gordon and his wife work together performing part-time janitorial services. Gordon said although he is now a supervisor, he has not forgotten his own experiences as a housekeeper. "To be just a supervisor that punches in and leaves, I never wanted that when I was in that position," Gordon said. "I have also found out that you don't have to be hard on people to get them to do what you need them to do." For Christmas, instead of the traditional Christmas cards or cologne, his staff bought him a new Orion television, which now sits in his office. "I don't just go home at the end of the day," Gordon said. "I get to know the people I work with, and it's made a big difference." Gwen Hammon, a housekeeper who has known Gordon for 12 years, said he is a unique supervisor because he gets to know his employees on a personal, as well as professional, level. "You can talk to him about any problems you may have, and he understands," she said. "We have a pretty good crew. When we are all together, there is no bickering or fighting, and it's because of him. A supervisor has a lot to do with that." His personal approach extends to students he encounters as well, said Karen Bumblis, a junior speech communication major. "He is one person I know that deserves so much respect," she said. "He does such a remarkable job that you want to thank him, but you don't know how. A card or a sign just wouldn't do him justice." Gordon said the work is difficult, but his staff makes it enjoyable. "I'm a happy-go-lucky guy right now," he said. "I've made a lot of friends out here."
Lety Laurel |
"I think I'm younger than I am, and they help keep
me young," she said. "My favorite part about the job is my contact
with the students, especially foreign students, because of the education
I get from that."
Albright then has 20 minutes to prepare
the bus and make sure the engine, tires, doors and controls are working
properly. He begins his run at TCU at 7:30 a.m.
Gordon was raised in Houston and joined the Air Force after
graduating from high school. Four years later, he left the Air Force and
moved to Fort Worth after meeting his wife, Linda. | The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |