Jack Llewellyn’s column, “
There was also an obituary for Virginia Herrera published in the Herald on the same day as Jack’s column. Virginia worked for over 20 years as a dedicated employee at Fort Lewis College. Virginia represents the unsung heroes of the college, the people who were the gatekeepers for our students and faculty. Virginia was intelligent, and she kept admission records well before computers simplified many of the tasks. She oversaw a series of 3-by-5 cards that sat on her desk. Her photographic memory was such that once a card was typed and prepared on an accepted student, she seldom had to refer to it, as she remembered everything about each student.
More importantly, Virginia enjoyed her job at the college. She lived at Marvel, yet she was the first one at the office, she had the coffee brewing and was hard at work before most of us arrived.
Her dedication to her position was apparent. She trained numerous new employees, and although she was not a professor or administrator, she believed her means of livelihood were vital to the college and worth doing well.
Employees like Virginia contributed to the success of many Fort Lewis College students and the college as a whole. Yet, I am afraid many of these humble gatekeepers have gone unrecognized.
I hope that people will know Virginia Herrera was a dedicated, loyal employee and an essential part of Fort Lewis College.
Sheri Rochford FiggsAllison
