Fifty years ago, in 1961, I joined the ISU Agriculture Department, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. It’s hard to believe that I’ve had an affiliation with the department for half a century.
I retired from ISU in December of 1989, but continued to teach part-time for a couple of years and have kept in touch with the changes that have occurred. I did consulting work for Ag World Exports, presenting Dairy Management Seminars in many countries for several years.
My wife, Lila, and I live in Normal and are enjoying our retirement years. We have never considered moving anywhere else for retirement. Our three children graduated from Illinois State and have careers in education and remain in close proximity. Four of our eight grandchildren are now in college. We do a moderate amount of traveling, but also enjoy working on our farm. Hunting, fishing, home projects, and volunteer work keep me active and healthy.
Besides what I do with all my spare time (I don’t have any!), the other most frequently asked question is do I miss teaching. I do not miss all the course preparation, paper grading, etc., but I do miss the interaction with students. Many of my fondest memories are working and traveling with students on field trips and judging activities. I am always impressed and pleased to hear about the careers of our graduates.
Hope you get a chance to visit the Ag Department and join in the celebration of its 100th anniversary or stop by our home for a visit. Contact me by email at clmoore@netzero.net.
