Environmental Progress - Spring 1998

Illinois EPA Retirees End 336 Years of Service

Fifteen veterans leave the environmental trenches for greener pastures.

The Illinois EPA recently lost 15 veteran employees to retirement, including six who were with the Agency from its first months in 1970.

The Agency is losing a lot of practical experience and knowledge with the retirements -- a combined 336 years!

Two of the retirees, Otto Klein and Bill Zenisek, both of the Bureau of Air, were on board Day One when the Illinois EPA first began operations on July 1, 1970.

Klein, who most recently specialized in asbestos and tax certification issues, also worked in the Agency’s legal division and field operations. Zenisek has been a field investigator for the Bureau of Air out of the Maywood regional office. Both were with the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Air Pollution Control before joining the newly created Illinois EPA.

A second-generation Zenisek, Bill’s son Andrew, continues to work in the Bureau of Air in Springfield, while his parents plan an extended trip West to visit family and friends.

Four other retirees, Shirley Crawford, Mike Hayes, Andrew Vollmer and Louise Donaldson, joined the agency in its first few months in 1970.

Crawford was the agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity Officer from 1974 until her retirement at the end of December. Vollmer also came to Illinois EPA from Public Health, and worked in several capacities in the Bureau of Land. Hayes worked in Air, Land, and Water in several management positions before becoming the first manager of the Office of Pollution Prevention. Donaldson, who started with Public Health in 1962, most recently worked in the Bureau of Air manager’s office.

Another veteran employee, Carlene Veltman, manager of Fiscal Services for the Agency, joined Illinois EPA in 1971 and will retire at the end of February.

The other retirees were:

• Linda Ray, who started in 1974 and held various positions in the Bureau of Water/Public Water Supply, retired the end of December.

• Gus Semon, manager of the mail/supply room, joined the Agency in 1976 and retired the end of 1997.

• Joyce Wilkinson joined Illinois EPA in 1978 and retired from the Bureau of Land the end of December.

• Mary (Betty) Lockart joined the Agency in 1979 and worked in both the Bureau of Water and the Bureau of Land, retiring the end of December.

• Thelma Knowles joined Illinois EPA in 1980 and worked in Adminstration and the Bureau of Land before retiring.

• Rosanna Irving joined the agency in 1981 and retired from the Bureau of Land at the end of December.

• Walter Power started with the Agency in 1987 and retired from the print shop at the end of November.

• Edna Reynolds joined Illinois EPA in 1989 and retired from the Bureau of Land Nov. 30.