For Shirley Plakidas, the Student Union holds many dear memories. Besides having worked in the Union for 44 years, she met the man who would become her husband over coffee in the Tiger Lair.
Plakidas, who has served as the Union’s program adviser, program director, assistant director and now director, said the facility was only three years old when she began her employment in 1967. Plakidas officially retires today, and a reception in honor of her service was held Thursday in the Union.
Speakers included Chancellor Michael Martin, Student Government President Cody Wells, Chair of the Union Board Theo Williams III and Eric Monday, vice chancellor for Finance and Administrative Services.
Martin said Plakidas has made students feel at home during her “stellar career at LSU” and commended her on “44 years of something very, very special.”
Wells complimented Plakidas on her dedication and optimistic attitude, saying, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen [her] not smiling.”
Plakidas moved to Baton Rouge shortly after her graduation from the University of Nebraska in 1966. She said she was seeking an escape from the Midwestern blizzards at the time and only planned to stay for two or three years, but is now a “converted Tiger fan.”
“The thing that’s kept me in this business is I enjoy seeing people enjoying themselves in this building,” Plakidas said as she settled into a chair in her office, surrounded by half-full boxes of her personal belongings and red roses on her desk.
Plakidas said her greatest accomplishments during her time at the University include performances she was able to offer through the Union Theatre, the entire program of leisure classes and the recent 10-year renovation project.
She said exhibits, theatre productions and other events in the Union are possible because of the collective efforts of many people, including student employees and volunteers.
Susan Reed, assistant director for Event Management, has worked with Plakidas for more than 30 years and said Plakidas has been “a mentor and a friend to all of us. We’re going to miss her, to say the least.”
Reed said Plakidas’ leadership was critical to the success of Union construction projects, saying Plakidas was “strong and determined” throughout the years that brought hurricanes and other delays.
Plakidas was honored in 1995 with the prestigious opportunity to serve as president of the Association of College Unions International, an organization of 570 U.S. institutions and 25 international institutions, Reed said. Plakidas was also presented the ACUI’s highest honor, the Butts-Whiting Award, in 1999 for her efforts to better the college union throughout her career.
Plakidas said she has worked for many years with the man who will take over as Union director, Jason Tolliver. She said Tolliver has become involved with Union operations recently, which will lead to a seamless transition between leaders.
Reed said while Union staff will miss Plakidas, they are also looking forward to working with Tolliver after the “changing of the guard.”
Plakidas’ plans for retirement include traveling in Texas with her sister, catching up on housekeeping and reading, cooking meals with “more than four ingredients” and spending time with her two grandchildren in the Dallas area and her two dogs in Baton Rouge.
She said she is looking forward to “having the freedom to do what I want to do when the urge hits,” including spending time in Greece with her husband when he retires.
Plakidas told reception attendees she feels blessed to have been able to do a job that “doesn’t feel like work.” Plakidas said she hopes students will continue to utilize and enjoy all that the Union has to offer for years to come.
“The Union is about building community on campus,” she said.
 
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Contact Catherine Parsiola at [email protected]