Community Colleges of Spokane's Nancy Zacher retires after 43+ years of service
Community Colleges of Spokane administrative assistant Nancy Zacher retired earlier this month after over 43 years of service at CCS.
After growing up on a wheat farm and graduating from Odessa High School in 1975, Zacher attended Spokane Community College (SCC). She graduated from SCC in a one-year program as a certified clerk-typist and continued with taking some additional data processing classes. Zacher was also a work-study in the District office in the Data Processing Center earning $1.50/hour, which increased to $1.75/hour!
While attending SCC, She practiced mock interviews in one of her classes. The instructor encouraged the class to apply for jobs in hopes of getting called for an interview to work out the first-time jitters. This experience would prepare the students for that "real job" after graduation.
Zacher then applied for an office assistant job at Community Colleges of Spokane, passed the typing test, interviewed with the Spokane Falls Community College PE/Athletic Department, and the rest is history. Zacher was interviewed & hired by then athletic director (AD) Jack Bafus and equipment manager Mike Mahoney.
Zacher recalls, "Little did I know that my practice interview and one-and-only interview would become my 'real job' lasting 43.5 years."
Within a short time, Bafus retired, and Dr. Maury Ray became her new boss. She also worked under Bobby Lee (now athletic director at North Idaho College) who filled in as interim athletic director before and after former CCS AD Ken Burrus' career, and her last new boss for five months was current AD Jim Fitzgerald.
Thank goodness for Technology!
In April 1977, Zacher started her job with a manual typewriter, then an electric and was excited to finally get a self-corrector! In 1985, her department received one of the first fax machines on campus. "I no longer had to take the football starting lineups over the phone," said Zacher.
In 1988-89 Zacher got a computer and was scared she would not be able to learn how to use it. "When I figured out how to sort an alphabetical football roster with 100+ players to a numerical roster within seconds, I wished I had gotten a computer ten years ago!, exclaimed Zacher.
Zacher's former bosses had some great things to say about her:
Dr. Maury Ray: "Nancy and I started working together in 1978 as we consolidated the two athletic programs from SCC and SFCC into the current CCS program. We spent 28 years working together and her hard work and attention to detail were vital to our success. She was like a second mother to many student athletes who were living away from home for the first time. We would have lost many of these students to drop outs without her office door always being open to help them with all the issues new students face in attending college for the first time. I always considered Nancy as one of the most important members of the athletic staff team we were able to put together at CCS and she played a vital role in the 167 NWAC championship we won with her help. Nancy has been a great co-worker, team player, friend and will be sorely missed as she moves into retirement!"
Ken Burrus: "Nancy spent her 43 year career helping students and student athletes. She is creative, knowledgeable and she always has a smile on her face. Thousands of students are better off because Nancy was a part of their college experience. She will be missed!"
Bobby Lee: "Nancy has the biggest heart for helping people and serving students! It was an honor to work with her for the years I did and I take away many lessons learned to be better in all areas. She was one of the foundational pieces to the storied success of Spokane Athletics and will be hard to replace!"
Q&A With Nancy
What will you miss most about working at CCS?
The people, which includes students, faculty, staff, and community members. I have enjoyed serving the students, working with everyone, and am grateful to have been part of such a great department, campus, and district. I have gained many friendships over the years and have many lasting memories to take with me.
After 43+ years in athletics, what are some of the positive aspects you feel college athletics provides student-athletes?
There are so many. I have personally heard numerous testimonials from students who would not have attended college had it not been for athletics, scholarships, and encouragement from their coaches. Many of these student-athletes graduated, had successful careers, and gone on to serve in leadership positions in their communities.
Student-athletes learn commitment, confidence, discipline, leadership, responsibility, sportsmanship, teamwork, and time management, which are useful skills for life. A bonus are the life-long friendships and lasting relationships they developed with their teammates.
What are your plans for retirement and what will you look forward to doing in the future (for entertainment)?
I am looking forward to things returning to the "old normal" and the pandemic going away! I wish I could say we have a cruise scheduled and other big travel plans. However, due to the COVID restrictions, there are not a lot of options for entertainment. Karl and I will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary in June and hopefully by then, we will be able to go out to dinner, a movie, concert, or something!
In the meantime, I will continue working my part-time, no-pay job at home with Karl. He has been a realtor/property manager for 45 years. Rentals are his passion, not mine, but I continue to be the support staff behind the scenes managing the books and endless paperwork. I will now have extra time to mow more lawns if needed.
I also plan to stay connected with friends, continue cardmaking, going to the lake, traveling, and attending some athletic events.
I will continue to be an advocate/cheerleader for physical education and sports and always feel blessed to have had the career opportunities I received. While raising three sons who all played football, basketball, and baseball, I had the benefit of attending their games from K-12. I will always be thankful for not missing out on this important family time.
Nancy and her husband Karl