June 24, 2014
Finney, Epps, Robertson retire from K-State central information technology
Three longtime employees with a cumulative 86 years of service have retired from central information technology at K-State. Leonard Finney, 37 years, retired from information technology services. Phyllis Epps, 15 years, and Larry Robertson, 34 years, retired from the Information Technology Assistance Center, a section of information technology services.
Finney, the procurement officer for information technology services, retired June 10. He joined K-State in 1977 as a computer operator in the data processing center. That unit later merged with academic computing to become computing and network services, which eventually became part of information technology services.
Finney's "do it now" attitude, straightforward talk and jocular personality have made him a familiar figure in central information technology and across the campus. To those who know him, it's no surprise that his retirement includes fishing and boats. Finney said it also includes "more monkey business." He added, "Just because I'm leaving, doesn't mean you'll be rid of me."
Epps, manager of the Media Development Center in the Information Technology Assistance Center, retired May 24. She joined the unit in February 1999, and her efforts and vision led to the creation of the Media Development Center in 2003.
Faculty, staff and students have benefited from her Master of Arts background and multimedia expertise, and her ongoing commitment to provide high-end audio, video and imaging resources for the campus community.
Epps and her husband, Jim, moved in May to Michigan, where they are enjoying peaceful environments and excursions, less technology and the beautiful view of Lake Michigan from their front yard.
Robertson, a technology support consultant at the IT Help Desk in the Information Technology Assistance Center, retired Feb. 1 after more than 34 years of service in central information technology at K-State. He joined K-State in September 1979 as a computer operations supervisor in academic computing, which later became part of computing and network services. Robertson eventually moved into help desk management support, and joined the Information Technology Assistance Center in August 2000 when the IT Help Desk was transferred to that unit.
The many students, faculty and staff — whom Robertson has helped over the years — will remember his positive attitude, patient listening skills and strong commitment to meeting customers' needs.
Robertson is greatly enjoying his retirement, which has freed up more time for family support and more playtime with grandchildren. He and his wife, Gloria, are making plans to travel, and he continues to occasionally assist K-State emeritus faculty — former customers who call him when they need urgent computer help.