Barb Spencer retired from her work for Mower County Tuesday outside the spotlight of attention.

She was honored early in the lengthy county board meeting agenda after 14 years of employment with Mower County Department of Human Services.

Bruce Henricks and Richard P. Cummings couldn’t escape the spotlight on the occasion of their retirements.

Henricks was honored by Heather Steinkamp and the Seibel Child Exchange and Family Visitation Center for his assistance in getting the project started. Then, more accolades came for Henricks, who is leaving his DHS director’s post after 29 years of employment with Mower County.

Henricks was appointed to the director’s post in 1993 and saw DHS grow to a department providing 99 different programs and services to the needy.

Ruth Schmidt, social services supervisor, praised Henricks, whom she said “Ranks at the top of the people I have worked for in my career.”

Kristen Nelsen, Mower County Attorney, called Henricks a “God-send.”

Craig Oscarson, county coordinator, said Henricks “has grown in his role as Human Services director.”

All of the county commissioners also shared words of praise for Henricks’ contributions.

Ray Tucker, 2nd District, said he enjoyed conferences spent with Henricks.

Dave Hillier, 3rd District, said it was “easy to trust Henricks’ decisions.”

Dick Lang, 4th District, and Dave Tollefson, 5th District, each added their compliments to Henricks for a job well done.

Richard P. Cummings, 1st District and chairman of the county board, said, “The many good employees in your department are a reflection on you.”

Henricks thanked the county commissioners for their support and understanding, praised his co-workers in DHS and called “Mower County the best county in the state of Minnesota.”

Honor ‘Dean’

of County Board

Lastly at Tuesday’s meeting, it was Cummings’ turn to be honored.

After serving 32 years as the 1st District county commissioner, Cummings did not seek re-election to another four-year term this year and announced his retirement.

Only, Robert R. Shaw, 40 years, and Robert Finbraaten, 36 years, served longer on the county board than Cummings.

Hillier said it was an “honor and a privilege” to serve along side Cummings for his 14 years on the county board.

“Serving with Dick has been a real pleasure,” the 2nd District’s Ray Tucker said.

The 4th District’s Lang called Cummings a “good friend” and the 5th District’s Tollefson said he admired the 1,152 regular county board meetings Cummings had attended in more than three decades.

Mower County Attorney Nelsen said she was in the first grade in school, when Cummings first took office in 1977.

County coordinator Oscarson said he admired Cummings “honesty and integrity.”

Al Cordes, county human resources director, said, “Thanks for all your years of dedicated service to Mower County.”

After the accolades were concluded, Cummings, his voice breaking, said, “I’m humbled.”

He recalled how budgets were done in long-hand cursive writing when he first joined the county board.

“I’ve always tried to listen and be fair,’ he said of his public service.

MaryAnne Law, executive director of the Parenting Resource Center of Mower County, expressed the agency’s appreciation to Cummings for his support and presented a plaque to the retiring public official; his second of the morning after another one from the county commissioners and county staff was bestowed upon him.

Watching the fanfare for the retiring county commissioner was Tim Gabrielson, who won the November election to replace Cummings on the county board.

Gabrielson will take office next week, when the officials are sworn in for new terms.

“He hasn’t offered me any advice,” Gabrielson said, “He offered his help if I ever needed it, showed me different spots around the county and coached me where to go for help from different departments.”

To conclude Tuesday’s meeting, Cummings relinquished his chairman’s role for one motion that will bear his name in the record books.

“It’s going to be different,” he said, when the meeting concluded. “It’s been a big part of my life for 32 years.”

“But life goes on and the new board will handle things I’m sure,” he said.

He moved to adjourn the meeting. It was seconded by Hillier, and all five commissioners voted “Aye.”