Judy Hill Walker

After high school, I started college, got married, moved to St. Louis, had a son, moved back to Olney, and then went back to school to get my degree in education. After getting my BS from EIU, I taught English at ERHS for the next 17 years. During that time I had another child, obtained a MA in 19th Century American Literature, and got a divorce. One day walking up the back drive of ERHS after lunch, I realized I had spent over half my life in that building and didn't want to end my life in room 209 teaching Julius Caesar for the millionth time. So I changed careers and became a UniServ Director for Kansas NEA in Topeka, KS. I was there for 5 years before coming back to Illinois to accept a similar position with the Illinois Education Association. I did UniServ work for 20 years before retiring in 2008. During those years, I negotiated hundreds of contracts with school boards, represented teachers in disciplinary actions and dismissal hearings, filed and argued grievances and unfair labor practices, trained a lot of teachers in bargaining skills and school finance, gave programs on school reform issues, lobbied many politicians, and even initiated a case that went to the KS Supreme Court that guaranteed teachers the right of due process. It was a hectic, high stress career, and I loved it. But the time came when I felt it was the right time to retire and I did in 2008. Now I enjoy visiting family and friends, taking my granddaughter to concerts (most recent was Keith Urban), cross stitching, scrapbooking, and doing whatever I darn well please.

I missed our last reunion (the first I've missed) but I'll never miss another one. Where have the years gone? I certainly don't feel old but the calendar and Social Security tell me that is what I'm becoming. It's hard to believe when we meet for another reunion, we will all be approaching 70!!! YIKES!!


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