4 Long-time Employees Retire from the League
By Julianne Coyne | Wednesday, September 15, 2010 1:11 PM
Pat Lindsay, Diana Cardona, Mary Rocha, Beverly Stein
Photo by Mary Mendez
Four women with a combined 96 years of UIL experience retired from the League in August.
Diana Cardona
Cardona is retiring from running the mailroom after working for the UIL for 29 years. She plans to use her retirement to read, do volunteer work and travel.
“Catching up with my family and friends is a high priority,” Cardona said. “They are spread out all over the country, so once things settle down I plan on making some surprise visits.”
Cardona said she loved the closeness of the League staff and teamwork she experienced while working at the UIL.
“It was great being a part of an organization where teamwork is so necessary to accomplish yearly goals,” she said. “I would say the favorite part of my job was when it all comes together for successful completion of projects.”
Arlo Flores, an administrative assistant in the accounting department, worked for Cardona for nine years.
“She was an outstanding supervisor and someone who taught me a lot about working with others and taking pride in my work,” Flores said.
Pat Lindsay
Lindsay worked in the UIL accounting department for 13 years.
Her daughter, Glenda Anderson, who works in the mailroom, said that UIL will be a different place without her.
“She’s a very loyal, dedicated employee,” Anderson said. “She does her job and just keeps ticking.”
Lindsay said her favorite part of her job was helping Texas students.
“I liked helping all the kids because I knew what I was doing was for the betterment of the students,” Lindsay said.
Beverly Stein
Stein has assisted the athletic directors for 28 years. During her time at the League, she has worked under three different executive directors: Dr. Bailey Marshall, Dr. Bill Farney and Dr. Charles Breithaupt.
She will start her retirement by visiting Sydney, Australia for the birth of her fifth grandchild.
Stein said that one of her favorite parts of her job was pulling together and working League tournaments and meets. In fact, one of her most memorable moments from working at the UIL came from a thunderstorm during a track meet.
“Several of us working the track meet got stuck in the middle of Memorial Stadium under a tarp as we were hailed upon,” Stein said. “It was scary at the time. But it all turned out fine, and we finished the track meet.”
Stein said she will miss the workers she met during the meets and tournaments.
“The UIL family has become a part of my life because everyone cares about what’s happening in your life,” Stein said. “I have enjoyed working with each and everyone of my co-workers and I will miss them.”
Assistant Athletic Director Peter Contreras said that Stein was a tremendous asset.
“She was the glue that held us together,” Contreras said. “The loss of her knowledge and experience will be difficult to overcome.”
Mary Rocha
Rocha retired from the UIL after 26 years of service. She said she will miss her coworkers and the students involved with UIL most.
“I loved getting to see the changes in people’s lives,” Rocha said. “I see people get married, have children. It’s the best part of working in a small department.”
During her tenure, Rocha helped with UIL events in every department.
“Mary has been a part of the League for so long and assisted with almost every activity that it will seem strange to host an event without her,” Academic Director Treva Dayton said. “She has been the epitome of UIL service.”
Rocha said her favorite part of her job was working the state tournaments.
“I got to see the best of the best,” Rocha said. “When I’d watch the One Act Play competitions, I was impressed because these kids were in high school, not on Broadway, but I’d think ‘maybe I’m getting to see them before they become famous.’”
Rocha said she loved her time at the UIL for many reasons.
“It’s hard to separate UIL from my life,” Rocha said. “I love telling people why what we do here is important.”