By Steven Stilt
During Monday’s meeting of the Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees, college officials took time to recognize Craig Roper, who was participating in his final meeting as a KC employee after nearly four decades of service, most recently as the school’s director of purchasing and auxiliary operations.
Roper addressed the board, thanking the trustees and other college officials for the chance to serve the KC community.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to have served the college in several different capacities. It’s been rewarding. It’s been gratifying. It’s neat to see all the accomplishments that the college has made over the past years. I look forward to some great things coming up and wish you all the best of luck in the future. Thank you.”
Jeff Thomas of Mount Vernon was named last September as the college’s new director of purchasing upon Roper’s retirement.
KC President George Evans was among those to comment on Roper’s service to the institution, complimenting Roper on his dedication to his work as well as his caring personality.
“Very few times in a career do you run across somebody who has spent 39 years and given their heart and soul to their workplace, and Craig is definitely that individual. (He’s) just a class act, a gentleman, an amazing father and, quite candidly, just a dear friend — a dear friend to not only everybody here now, but everybody who he has crossed paths with over the last 40 years. You know, you cannot replace somebody like him.”
Evans says that Roper’s four-decade career at KC started with a part-time job in the school’s bookstore.
