She started her career at Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative when Richard Nixon was president of the United States.

It was the year that the Watergate controversy started; Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight championship; the Vietnam War still raged; the “Ed Sullivan” TV show broadcast for the last time; and James Bond, Agent 007, thrilled screen audiences in the movie “Diamonds Are Forever.”

Kay Cox walked into the BREC offices on Aug. 21, 1971, beginning of a career that would span over three decades. The veteran cashier and lead customer service representative retired on Jan. 31, 2006, after logging 34 years and seven months of rural electric cooperative service.

Co-workers, friends, and family members gathered at BREC’s Rio Grande headquarters to wish her well during a retirement reception on her last day at work. She received several gifts and remembrances. It was a moment she had been planning for and looking forward to, but bitter sweet all the same.

“I made lots of friends over the years, and I will miss the folks at Buckeye,” Kay said.

Working with cooperative members was enjoyable, especially when she could help solve a problem.

Clyde Ramsey was the co-op’s general manager when she reported to work in 1971.

“At that time, the Buckeye office was in downtown Gallipolis. Everything we did was manual; nothing had been automated or computerized,” she recalled.

“Folks had to read their own meters, and we manually input the payments and meter readings. We had one billing cycle. All bills were due on the 15th of the month.”

Fast forwarding to 2006, Kay marveled at the technological changes: advanced information systems, digital data storage, automated meters, paperless mapping, computers at every work station, and the Internet.

“Technology was scary at first. Everyone had to get used to it,” she said.

Admitting that there is a lot of Monday mornings in 34 years of working,” Kay said she felt it was time to retire and indulge her yen to travel. She plans several trips this year, perhaps even a cruise. She is also going to spend time with family and friends, including her three grandchildren.

Customer Service Supervisor Linda Ratliff said, “We wish Kay the best, but she will be missed by all the folks here at Buckeye. She was an asset to our department and the cooperative.”