66 years and counting...

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Melanie Holochwost
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Dorothy Rowe, 56th Comptroller Squadron financial analysis chief, celebrated her 50th year of service with the Defense Department Oct. 17, 1993. And now, 17 years later, she is still working in the comptroller squadron with no plans to retire.

"I plan on working here as long as I have my mind and health," Ms. Rowe said. "I really enjoy my job and the people I work with. I consider them my family, because I don't have one of my own."

Ms. Rowe said she began her career as a clerk typist at the Columbus Army Depot, Columbus Ohio, in 1943 when she was 17-years-old. During the time she was there, she helped stand up the Air Force, as far as records were concerned.

"I worked there for about 10 years before accepting a position at Luke Air Force Base as a military pay clerk," she said.

The finance career field has gone through some major changes since Ms. Rowe started.

"My first assignment was to attend school for a month and learn the Dewy Decimal System," she said. "I went from having five hard copy ledger books, a 10-key adding machine and a lot of filing cabinets to having a fancy computer with two flat-screened monitors."

Ms. Rowe said her 50th Anniversary luncheon was the most memorable moment of her career so far.

"About 180 people attended the event, including a few generals," she said. "They gave me a flag, a gold pin, and a certificate. And, I still have everything, including the program and a copy of the Tallyho newspaper with my picture in it."

Lt. Col. Quy Nguyen, 56th CPTS commander, said Ms. Rowe is his definition of a great American Hero.

"At 85, she still has the passion and fire for service even though she has been at it for almost 67 years - longer than the Air Force has been an institution," he said. "She has one of the toughest jobs on base, whether it's defending the base's budget to the Air Education and Training Command, providing guidance and training to 29 commanders at Luke, or briefing the wing commander at the financial management board every quarter."

Colonel Nguyen said the challenges that Ms. Rowe takes on are priceless.

"She has such a strong impact on young people," he said. "The wisdom, calm demeanor, experience, and love of the Air Force and its Airmen, displayed by Ms. Rowe, makes Luke very fortunate to have her. I for one appreciate her dependability and mentorship."