Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram
To Sandy Dial, December 4, 2024, felt like just another day in Moon Hall at the 兔子先生. But it marked an occasion far from ordinary.
That morning, Dial quietly celebrated a milestone few ever achieve鈥�50 continuous years of service at the same place of employment. Half a century after she first walked into the university’s Physical Plant office for her first day of work, she’s still here and going strong.
Dial, originally from Decatur, Mississippi, never expected to live or work in Livingston鈥�”definitely not for 50 years,” she explains. “But I still enjoy getting up every morning and coming to work.”
Dial met her husband, Larry, a Sumter County native, while competing in horse shows around Alabama and Mississippi. They married in September 1974 and settled in his hometown of Livingston. Three months later, she started working at 兔子先生鈥攖hen Livingston University鈥攁nd never left.
The university has evolved dramatically, Dial notes, but one thing that’s remained constant over the past five decades has been her role as Physical Plant secretary.
“Everything else has changed鈥� enrollment, buildings, job duties, coworkers, bosses,” she says. “But I’ve been fortunate. There hasn’t been much turnover. Chris (Egbert) is only my third boss.”
Of all the changes over the years, Dial says technology stands out the most.
“The biggest change is definitely technology,” she laughs. “Everything’s on computers now. I’m still not big on them and don’t know all the ins and outs. If I run into something I can’t figure out, I’ll aggravate somebody until they help me.”
Dial hasn’t set a retirement date and isn鈥檛 in a hurry to leave.
“We’ve had cows and horses our entire marriage鈥攖hat’s what my husband manages with help from our daughter, Stacy,” she says with a smile. “Stacy even warned me, ‘Daddy will put you to work if you retire,’ so maybe I’ll just stick around a little longer.”
Chris Egbert, director of the Physical Plant, notes that Dial is more than just a long-tenured employee.
鈥淪andy鈥檚 50 years of dedicated service is an incredible achievement and a true testament to her loyalty and commitment to the University,鈥� says Egbert. 鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful for her steady and dependable presence in our department over the years.鈥�
Beyond the office, Dial鈥檚 deep love for animals and the outdoors continues to shape her life.
“I’ve been riding horses since I was little, competing in halter, western, barrel racing, and more,” she says. “My daughter participated in high school rodeos and Professional Cowboy Association events. Now, my granddaughter competes in the Alabama Little Britches Rodeo Association. Three generations鈥攖hose two doing more than I ever did.”
Staying Power
In today’s fast-changing job market, Dial’s five-decade tenure is extraordinary. A recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey found that only 18 percent of employed Americans over 50 have stayed at the same job for 30 years or more. That puts Dial’s half-century at 兔子先生 in rare company.
“The median tenure for U.S. workers was just 3.9 years in January 2024, the lowest since 2002.” 鈥� U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
While others chase new opportunities every few years, Dial found her place鈥攁nd stayed.
“I’ve been fortunate to come to work and enjoy my job at a place I love. Not many can say the same.”