N.C. Department of Correction--Correction News--July 1998

Hazel Keith honored for 46 years of service

RALEIGH — Hazel Keith, retired manager of Combined Records, became the first corrections employee to receive the Caswell award June 15 at the state history museum.

Freeman and Keith

Keith was among 17 employees who were honored for working at their state jobs for 45 years or more.

"These employees are remarkable for their years of service and their continuing contributions to our state," said Ron Penny, state personnel director. The honorees had a total of 811 years of experience.

Keith and the 16 other employees were the first to be honored by State Personnel with the new awards named after Richard Caswell, the first governor of the state of North Carolina. Each award recipient received a pin recognizing their achievement and a pitcher made from North Carolina clay by a Seagrove pottery house and inscribed with their names.

"This award is a fitting way to honor our most important public servants," said Franklin Freeman, Governor Hunt’s chief of staff. "These people have given their entire working lives to making North Carolina a better place."

Keith received her award from Freeman, a former secretary of Correction. She began working for the department in 1951, taking a temporary secretarial job. After just a couple of weeks, a woman resigned in Combined Records and Keith was hired to fill the vacancy. She retired earlier this year after 46 years of service. u