The State Hygienic Laboratory honored its long-time staff members with a celebration on Oct. 7 in its Center for the Advancement of Laboratory Science, inaugurating the laboratory’s Quarter Century Club. More than 25 former and current staff members and their families attended.

Quarter Century Club committee members (from left) Beth Hochstedler, Pam Mollenhauer, Pat Kosier, Carol Adams, Lorelei Kurimski and Amanda Hughes surround master of ceremonies Mike Schueller.

Director Chris Atchison suggested the lab form the club after his experiences with a similar one during his work at the Illinois Department of Public Health. He remarked during the celebration, “As I saw many of you with 20, 30 and even 40-plus years of experience, I thought we should create our Quarter Century Club to get together and reminisce both as a family and as part of Iowa’s public health heritage.”

Master of ceremonies Mike Schueller, environmental manager, led a “Laboratory Trivia” game and awarded prizes to members who traveled farthest for the event. Most attendees came from the Iowa City and Ankeny areas. Former employees who came the farthest were Sudesh Sikka from Dallas and Jim Nelson from Estes Park, Colo.

The institutional knowledge of the Quarter Century Club members stretches back almost 45 years. Carilyn Weiland began work at the lab early in 1972, retired after 30 years, but continued working part-time until recently. John Bryant, clerk in the Administration and Finance Division, holds the record for the longest consecutive years worked as a full-time staff member at the State Hygienic Laboratory with 44 years of service. Bryant began working at the laboratory in August 1972 and will retire this November.