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from the issue of June 9, 2005
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Swanson readies for retirement
BY TROY FEDDERSON, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
In the early morning chill of Jan. 17, 1977, Daryl Swanson cleared snow covered sidewalks and unlocked UNL's East Union doors for the first day of business.
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| | | After working for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Unions for 39 years - not including an additional three years as a student - Union Director Daryl Swanson is retiring on June 30. Swanson counts the construction of the East Union, the creation of the Culture Center and the protection of University Childcare as his top accomplishments at UNL. A retirement reception for Swanson will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. July 1 in the Nebraska Union. All faculty, staff and students are welcome. Photo by Troy Fedderson, University Communications.
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The scoops were the finishing touch on a three-year project that provided Swanson the experience to step up and become the university's union director in 1979. Now, as he prepares to retire on his 66th birthday (Thursday, June 30) Swanson looks back on that day as one of the best in his 39 years working for the UNL Unions.
Swanson recalls serving more than 1,200 lunches to faculty, staff and students - for which he credits Dean Young, who at 23 and on the recommendation of a UNL dietitian was hired as the new union's food service manager. He also remembers handling a handful of other issues that first day as the East Union was not quite ready for business.
"East Campus had waited for years for that union and we did not want to disappoint them," Swanson said. "We had just enough equipment to get things done that day.
"We knew they were elated to have it, but they still surprised us."
Swanson was involved with all levels of the East Union construction, starting with an appointment to the planning committee in 1974. When ground was broken in 1975, Swanson was chosen to watch over the actual construction. Then, as work drew to completion, he was named the associate director in charge of the new union.
"Opening the East Union was a tremendous experience," Swanson said. "It was my career break."
Swanson started to cement his career as a UNL sophomore. Living in Selleck Hall in 1960, Swanson took his first Nebraska Union job -- donning a green jumpsuit and setting up events.
Before graduating with a business degree in 1963, Swanson worked at the Union's front desk and advanced to night manager. After receiving his diploma, Swanson was drafted into the Army and served for three years, watching the build-up to Vietnam.
When he returned to Lincoln in 1966, his old boss at UNL invited him back.
"He called and said he had a position for me," Swanson said. "My first professional job was managing the recreation area in the Union (which included a 10-lane bowling alley). Another part of that was supervising the student night managers."
Serving in that capacity for two years, Swanson started to move up the hierarchy of the Union management system, advancing to the leadership role in the East Union construction.
"Building the East Union was great experience for me," Swanson said. "I finally had a building of my own."
When the UNL Union Director position opened up in 1979, Swanson was appointed interim director. He also took measures to let the search committee know he wanted to become the full-fledged director.
"I decided that this was going to be my career," Swanson said. "Either I was going to be a union director at UNL or it was going to happen elsewhere."
Included among the three finalists, Swanson didn't believe he was going to be the final choice. Both of those he was vying against had extensive experience managing union systems at other collegiate campuses, and one of those was also a UNL alumuns.
However, during the eight-month interim between the director leaving and a new hire being made, Swanson kept the UNL Union system running without missing a beat. To this day, he believes that was the reason he was hired to the post.
"Those eight months were the deal breaker," Swanson said. "I didn't have the same experience the other two had. I was just in the right place at the right time."
Over the past 39 years, Swanson has proven his ability, guiding the UNL Unions through expansion projects while also providing facilities that draw students, faculty and staff through the door.
"The purpose of the Union has not changed much in the last 40 years," Swanson said. "We offer services such as the bookstore, career services, greek affairs, ASUN, the Daily Nebraskan, that are necessary for our students.
"We provide a central place to go. We are the university's living room."
While he remains proud of what the Nebraska Union has become - especially with the recent $13.5 million expansion project - three of Swanson's top accomplishments came outside the main building.
The first is the East Union. The other two involve establishing the Culture Center and keeping University Child Care running.
In 1985, the university purchased an old chapel and converted it into the current site for the Culture Center. The union director at UNL continues to be responsible for managing the facility.
When that purchase was made, Swanson was forced to evict a childcare facility that was running in the basement of the chapel.
"That was not one of my best meetings," Swanson said of an informational meeting with parents. "I was their new landlord and I was evicting them. They were not pleased. But, I promised to help find suitable space for them."
Tapping into his professional contacts, Swanson helped get the childcare facility relocated to the YWCA in downtown Lincoln. Today, the childcare facility remains under the auspices of the UNL union director.
"I never dreamed I would be in charge of childcare as a union director," Swanson said. "But, it's also something that I am very proud of. It is a unique service that we can offer the university community.
"It is these types of programs that make us special."
As for his successes, Swanson is quick to credit his employees in the UNL Union system.
"We are open 110 hours a week, but a union is a 24/7 operation," Swanson said. "I have been blessed with many, long-standing employees. The employees are the strength of the Unions at UNL."
As he readies to turn over the keys to a yet-to-be-named successor, Swanson doesn't have any real retirement plans. However, he hopes to remain active, possibly volunteering time at UNL.
"After working 39 years here, a lot of people would not want to come back," Swanson said. "But, I really have enjoyed my time on campus. It's time for me to move on, but it is still going to be difficult leaving something that you have been a part of for so long."
GO TO: ISSUE OF JUNE 9
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