The early years

Your “work” was that place I went when I didn’t have school. In some office with a corner where I could draw, I would happily distract you by showing off the masterful, multicolored scribbles I could produce at an alarming pace. And if ever I needed more validation for my efforts, a quick trip down the hall would bring me to any number of happy co-workers and friends, all quick to show their appreciation for what were certainly masterpieces, now lost to time. 

Emboldened by your support, when given the opportunity, I took my talents center stage during your lectures, abandoning the front row seat I was given, complete with paper and crayons, and opting instead for the lower right hand corner of the chalk board as my canvas. Whatever words of wisdom you planned to impart that day to your student body were surely overshadowed by a few indecipherable doodles from your son.

And while the masterpieces of my early days may never be recovered, one strong impression remains – A father who always supported his son, loved his work, and who was surrounded by co-workers that shared the same passion and kindness in their hearts.

The middle years

No longer requiring constant supervision, my trips to your office dwindled. I now viewed your career through the lens of dinner table conversation, filtered through the eyes of a budding young man, and then scrambled together with topics such as girls, friends, school, sports, and music. Simple matters such as sustainable agriculture, human and community development, or government grant funding didn’t stand a chance in my young teenage mind. Needless to say, this era marked the height of my inability to describe what it is you actually do.

But despite my disinterest in your passions, your interest in mine never wavered. This goes for you too mom. I wish I could count the number of events of mine you both attended over the years. I’m sure you missed a few, but I can’t remember any. When I consider the many activities I was constantly a part of, the total number of times you both attended is surely in the thousands. That’s tens of thousands of cheers and high fives, and a priceless amount of love and support. 

The later years

Perhaps it was me starting my own career, or perhaps I was getting tired of looking foolish when trying to explain my dad’s career to my friends, but at some point I realized it might be a good idea to figure out what exactly you have been doing all my life. I must admit, this is still a work in progress – you’ve done a lot. But what’s clear is that you leave behind a trail of successful programs and research, and that what you’ve done and learned through your career is being multiplied by the thousands of students and coworkers on whom you’ve made an impact. Your most recent position as Associate Dean highlights the trust and respect you have garnered over your career.

Although today we celebrate the end of that career, you still hold the position of my dad, and recently you were hired into the newly available position of Paxton’s grandad, both of which are jobs from which I know you will never grow tired, and you will never retire.