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Retire the thought of retirement for 83-year-old state worker The remarkable story of Monroe County native Christine Crowe who is still at work at age 83; many in Adair County would know her. She is the sister of former Monroe County Court Clerk Paul Crowe and was his deputy; taught in one room Monroe County School. With two photos By Kim Brannock Kentucky State Government Christine Crowe is not your typical worker. At 83, she is the oldest full-time employee of the Kentucky Education Cabinet and after more than 47 years on the job, retirement is not in her vocabulary. The Monroe County native is a placement interviewer in the Louisville KentuckianaWorks One Stop Career Center in the cabinets Office for Employment and Training (OET). Since she came to work for state government in 1958 during Governor A.B. "Happy" Chandlers administration, Crowe said she has never thought of quitting or retiring. Goal is to work for state government for at least 50 years Crowe said her goal is to work for state government for at least 50 years. In some ways you could say the never wed Louisville resident is married to her job. "Til death do us part or as long as Im able and doing the job they want me to do," she said of her career plans. Crowe also is not your typical older worker. According a recently released federal report called "65+ in the United States: 2005" Americans are living longer, healthier lives but choosing to retire at earlier ages than 50 years ago. The report attributed much of that change in retirement attitudes to better public and private benefit plans. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for January 2006, 4.4 percent of all females 75 years and older are in the labor force and that includes part- and full-time workers. In total U.S. employment, only one-third of 1 percent or 454,000 are in the category of females 75 years and older. Bureau doesn't publish statistics on people Crowe's age The bureau doesnt publish statistics on peopleCrowes age in the workforce. Unlike Crowe, most older Americans who decideto continue in the workforce are part-time employees. According to the 65+federal report, in 2003 about half of employed men 70 and older and abouttwo-thirds of women 70 and over who were employed worked part-time. Thereasons for staying in the workforce past full retirement age vary but thereport says that people 62 and over most often cite enjoyment of working asthe reason they continue. Crowe graduated from Western Kentucky Universityin 1942 with a degree in elementary education and since entering theworkforce that year as a sixth-grader teacher, Crowe has never beenunemployed. She's a sister of former Monroe County Court Clerk Paul Crowe After four years of teaching, Crowes brother Paul was electedcounty court clerk in Monroe County and asked her to work for him as adeputy clerk. In 1954, Crowe succeeded her brother as county court clerkand worked in the position for four years. She was the first female electedto a public office in Monroe County. At 35, she started working for stategovernment in Louisville. Her varied career has taken her from the smalltown of Tompkinsville to Louisville. Taught in one-room Monroe County school "The first year I taught in a one-roomschool in Monroe County. We didnt even know there was another county," shesaid laughing. "I got lost the first day finding the building" in downtownLouisville at Second and Walnut streets. In 1960, the office moved to itscurrent location at Sixth and Cedar streets. "Ive stayed because I likethe job. I have no regrets of working for state government," she said. "Thebiggest reward is finding jobs for people and making a change in theirlives." Gas wasn't $3 a gallon when her salary was $300 a month Crowes first state job was as an employment interviewer and shemade $300 a month. "At that time it was a reasonable salary. Gas wasnt $3a gallon," she said. For about 25 years of her OET career Crowe was asupervisor in the Louisville office but she says she is happy not to havesupervisory duties now. As a placement interviewer, Crowe counsels andplaces people in jobs, sets up job tests to determine their skills andrefers them to other agencies for help. Crowe said the biggest change shehas seen in the workplace is computers. For most of her career in stategovernment forms had to be filled out by hand by employees but now peoplecan self-register using a computer. Crowe said even though she has only hada computer in the workplace for a few years, she has never felt intimidatedby them. Most people she encounters on job are at low point of lives Many of the people Crowe encounters on her job are at a low pointin their lives. "We try to bring their spirits up if we can and tell themto look on the positive side and it will work out," Crowe said of helpingpeople who are looking for jobs. Crowe said she often runs into people thatshe has placed in jobs and some even come by to visit her at the office. Insome cases, she has helped people get several jobs over the years andtheyre often surprised to see she is still working when they come back tothe office. "People ask me every day Miss Crowe, when are you going toretire?'" said the Louisville resident who has worked under 12 Kentuckygovernors. She would be lost without her job, she says While many workers count the days until they can retire andenjoy the good life, Crowe would be lost without her job and coworkers.Crowe likes to arrive at work at 5:45 a.m., even though she doesntofficially start on the clock until 7 a.m., and get the office ready forher coworkers and customers. "Im the first one here. I just like coming inand being busy. I cant stand to sit. I have to be doing something." Crowesaid she has been late to work only one day in the 47 years she has workedfor state government and she is quick to point out that it wasnt herfault. She says the condition of the streets in Louisville was so bad theystopped her bus and let people off to get a cup of coffee and that delayedher. Crowe can quickly pull dates and names from her memory bank withouthaving to look them up like many people half her age. She likes to staybusy at home as well as at work. Gardening, crosswords, walking keep her mentally and physically fit Among her hobbies, Crowe enjoys gardeningand push mowing her lawn. She keeps fit physically by walking two miles aday and stays mentally sharp by doing the Jumbo word puzzle in theLouisville Courier-Journal newspaper every day. Steve Bodnar, assistantmanager of the KentuckianaWorks One Stop Career Center, has worked forstate government for more than 15 years and he says he expects Crowe willbe there when he retires. "Christine is like a rock. Christine is alwaysreliable. Rarely do you come in and Christine isnt here and ready to go,"he said. Crowes good health has been a big factor in her ability to keepworking full time. Except for being off for about eight weeks in 2003 forhealth reasons, she has been able to work steadily throughout her career.According to the 65+ study, declining health is one of the main reasonsthat aging Americans decide to retire. "I'm staying until I'm ready to go," she says of job So what does Crowe say when peopleask her about when she going to retire? "Im staying until Im ready togo" she says with smile. (30) The Kentucky Education Cabinet coordinateslearning programs from P-16, and manages and supports training andemployment functions in the Department for Workforce Investment. There is moreinformation about our programs. To visit our website, Click Here. or call us at 502-564-6606. April 27, 2006 story courtesy Kim Brannock, Kentucky State Government, Frankfort, KY This story was posted on 2006-04-27 09:59:03
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