TSTC staff, students gather at retirement party to thank Lisa Langford for her service
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
After more than 16 years at Texas State Technical College, Lisa Langford retired last week, and many of her co-workers and students that she’s worked with over the years joined her for a retirement party on Friday to let her know how much she’ll be missed.
Carminia Del Toro, right, presented Lisa Langford with a plaque of appreciation for her 16 years of work at Texas State Technical College. On Friday, Oct. 31, Langford retired from TSTC. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
In addition to the crowd gathered at the Breckenridge campus, Langford’s co-workers from other TSTC campuses joined in the celebration via a video conference call.
“We wanted to celebrate her because she’s given us lots of time and dedication, and has been away from her family and her friends, but now it’s time for her to start her second half of life and enjoy time with family, pick up some hobbies and have a little fun,” said Raquel Mata, TSTC’s associate provost in West Texas.
Langford’s career with TSTC started back when the college was called Texas State Technical Institute. In 1980, she graduated from the Waco campus as the first female graduate of their aviation program as a registered pilot with a flight instructor rating and a twin-engine rating.
Later, she worked for several years in the Breckenridge Independent School District at North Elementary and the junior high, before returning to TSTC as an employee.
Jaclyn Morehart, from left, takes a picture of her mom, Lisa Langford, and a former student, Shannon Nicklas, at Langford’s retirement party. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
During the retirement celebration last week, several people talked about their experiences with Langford. “She got us through everything. She was our counselor, our second mom. She was the one who was saying, ‘You can do this,'” said Shannon Nicklas, a TSTC graduate. “We would spend lots of times in her office, just chatting, and she would help us. … She kept us in line. And if it hadn’t been for her, I don’t think we would have all made it. And now we have a nurse midwife; I’m the branch director of a home health; we have several DONs, people that run nursing homes. So without her, we wouldn’t have made it that far.”
Carminia Del Toro, an associate manager of enrollment for TSTC, thanked Langford for her years of helping new students with the college process, and she presented Langford with a plaque recognizing her service to the college.
“I’m just so thankful that all of you are here to celebrate in this day, and I couldn’t have done what I do without all of your help and all of your support,” Langford said. “So it means the world to me. I have really enjoyed my time at TSTC; there have been some struggles along the way, I’m not going to lie, but it’s been a great ride.”
Lisa Langford poses with the cake at her retirement party. She retired on Friday after more than 16 years with TSTC. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Lisa Langford, center, was surrounded by her family at her retirement party. The event was also attended by many of Langford’s co-workers and former students. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: Lisa Langford, center with her grandson Miles, was honored with a retirement party on Friday, Oct. 31. She retired from Texas State Technical College after working there for more than 16 years. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
