Kansas City Kansas Community College

Things won’t be quite the same at the Leavenworth Center of Kansas City Kansas Community College.

A fixture since 1991, Ken Dugger ended a 21-year custodial career at the center Friday, April 10.

“He was the perfect man for the job and we’re really going to miss him,” said Karalin Alsdurf, the Center’s director for the past 12 years. “When I’d come in the morning, the lights would be on, the flags flying, the coffee made and everything would be ready to go.”

“When I first met him, the first thing he said was whatever you need me to do, I’ll do for you,” echoed Charles Cofield, KCKCC Director of Custodians. “I told him whatever you need we’ll do for you and we’ve had a great relationship ever since.”

Cofield, Director of Buildings and Grounds Larry Seal and Assistant Director Jeff Sixta were among more than 20 members of the Buildings and Grounds Department from the main campus who were on hand for a retirement breakfast. “I lost $5 on whether you’d be here 15 or 20 years,” Seal told Dugger.

At age 64, Dugger plans to continue his good works. “I’ve got several yard jobs lined up to help elderly people so I’ll be keeping myself busy,” he says. He also has his own large yard and a 30 x 30 garden to take care of – when he’s not fishing. “I go every chance I get.”

Then there’s the ever-present Harley Davidson Nostalgia motorcycle. Both he and his wife of 24 years, Tracy, own and ride motorcycles whenever the weather and time permits. Tracy has been the deputy director for information systems for Leavenworth County for the past 25 years.

A native of Atchison, Dugger was drafted in 1968 and spent four years serving Uncle Sam during the Vietnam Conflict. He moved to Leavenworth because of the hope of more employment opportunities and had worked in the Leavenworth Community Center for two years when he saw an opening at the Leavenworth Center, applied and got the job.

“I love this college,” says Dugger. “They’re good people, great to work with and good to their employees. And they treat their students well.”

Dugger is particularly proud of KCKCC’s on-track program which makes it possible for adults to get their GED (General Education Development) degrees. “It’s a wonderful program; a GED is something you have to have,” says Dugger, himself a GED graduate after being drafted.

Only the third custodian employed at the Center, which opened in the fall of 1987 and began offering classes the following spring. “He outlasted two directors, Gail Mayo and Barbara Bauer,” said Alsdurf in bidding Dugger a tearful farewell. “It’s a sad day but we thank you for a wonderful 21 years.”