Faculty Flunk Retirement
by Jennie Kirkland

While peers hit the golf course or travel the globe, three retired professors in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources are still in the classroom, working to improve the lives of students. Jim Key, Robert Oehrtman and Joe Berry want their students to succeed, but these men are truly flunking retirement.

A lifetime in agricultural education

With five years of Air Force training and a few years of teaching high school vocational agriculture classes under his belt, Key started his career at Oklahoma State University. Although he officially has retired to a 25 percent teaching schedule, Key is not slowing down.

Hired by Bob Price and George Cook in 1969 to teach a research design class, AGED 5983, Key still teaches the class today.

Key gradually decreased his class load from 100 percent to 25 percent, a phasing retirement plan he encourages other professors to investigate.

“The university and I have an agreement,” Key said.

“Anytime they don’t want me or anytime I don’t want to teach, that’s when we quit.”

With his 37 years of experience, he said he still enjoys watching students succeed. His pleasure can be seen in his enthusiasm of watching doctoral students finish their oral exams. He said this is a great accomplishment for his students and for him.

“When I see students achieve and accomplish goals that they have been trying to reach, it gives me a great amount of pleasure,” Key said.

Key may have decreased his in-class teaching, but he has done the opposite in the community. He owns a cow-calf operation and harvests hay for himself and his neighbors.

Retiring in 1998 at age 62, Key has devoted his time to bringing an international ministry program to Oklahoma. Kairos Prison Ministry is a Christian-based prison ministry in 33 states and five foreign countries. Kairos means “God’s timing” in Greek. Key, a primary founder of the Oklahoma division, is part of a network of 250 to 300 volunteers.

“That’s my primary job now,” Key said.

Part of the job includes going to the Davis Correctional Center in Holdenville, Okla., once a week. Key said he puts 20,000 to 30,000 miles on his car per year just visiting prisons. Key is involved in Kairos at both state and national levels.

“You see guys and gals who have no hope, and they’re incarcerated and have no hope of getting out,” Key said. “They can get hope through this ministry. It’s well worth it.”

 

Numbers, numbers, numbers

Another faculty member who refuses to give up his CASNR post is Oehrtman. His tenure at OSU is proven by the stacks of papers towering over his desk and his office.

Oehrtman joined the OSU family in 1970. After attending the other two OSUs, Ohio State University and Oregon State University, as well as Iowa State University, he stayed at the third and final OSU.

“I made it to all three OSUs,” Oehrtman said, “and the colors of Oregon State University and Oklahoma State University are actually the same.”

It was not his love for the color orange that brought him to CASNR; it was a faculty position, where he did 25 percent teaching and 75 percent research.

“My assignment has changed over the years,” Oehrtman said. “Now, I do 80 percent teaching and 20 percent research.”

Throughout the years, Oehrtman has taught nine different agricultural economics courses, ranging from AGEC 1114 Principles of Agricultural Economics for freshmen to AGEC 5113 Applications of Mathematical Programming for graduate students. He was the only teacher for AGEC 1114 for 20 years – well known for his 20-plus-page exams.

Today, Oehrtman teaches AGEC 4333 Commodities Futures Markets, and he does not plan to leave CASNR’s classrooms any time soon.

Oehrtman also serves the campus and community. A 16-year member of the University Health Care Committee, Oehrtman has played an important role in improving health care benefits for OSU faculty and staff.

As the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity adviser for 27 years, Oehrtman has earned the national outstanding adviser award twice.

In addition to these awards, Oehrtman has received more than 40 other awards, including the American Agricultural Economics Association’s Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award in 1984.

“I forget about these things until I look back through them,” he said.

Boy Scouts of America has provided another service opportunity for Oehrtman. He has served as a scoutmaster for area Boy Scouts since 1981. Oehrtman said he has hiked the Washita Mountains with the Boy Scouts more than 20 times.

Oehrtman still plans to travel. He said he hopes to take a fall trip to follow the leaves changing color, driving south from New Hampshire.

In the meantime, he’s still working in Agricultural Hall, claiming in 10 years he still will be cleaning out his office.

 

Thriving in poultry production

After teaching for 35 years, Berry finds himself flunking retirement.

Berry, who retired in 2003, still teaches ANSI 4023 Poultry Production, which is one of the original classes he began teaching nearly 25 years ago.

“I enjoy staying in contact with people and helping our students,” Berry said.

He became interested in majoring in poultry after a student teacher in his high school vocational agriculture class in Sayre, Okla., said there were plenty of jobs for graduates.

Berry said his greatest accomplishment is being a positive influence on students.

“That’s what you hope if you are an educator, that students are better by having your class,” Berry said.

An influential person on Berry’s career as a teacher was his high school vocational agriculture teacher, Henry Heise. Berry said he encouraged him to do some things he might not have done, including attending OSU.

In retirement, Berry is still active outside the classroom as a member of the Oklahoma Egg Council.

“It keeps me up to date on what’s going on,” Berry said.

Always willing to help, he and his wife, Margaret Ann, recently assisted with two Oklahoma Egg Council-sponsored omelet breakfasts for 250 people that were fund-raisers for the American Heart Association.

Berry said he also enjoys spending his spare time working on the family farm and fishing.

Berry said he hopes to retire permanently in a few years.

Key, Oehrtman and Berry continue to make a difference for CASNR in their retirement and their commitment to students is unwavering.

“I never want to sit and rock,” Berry said. “I want to wear out, not rust out.”