After 26 years, cafeteria worker retires

Most freshmen remember Lou Crouch from their first admissions tour of IU's campus or hearing her buoyant chuckle while waiting in the lines at Wright Food Court. Her jolly smile, plume of silver hair and grandmotherly demeanor have given new and current students a taste of southern Indiana's charm. \nSince 1998, Crouch has perched in the cashier's chair at Wright. But Crouch retired Thursday, ending a career in IU food service spanning nearly 26 years. \n"I started in 1978 and have worked at Briscoe, Wright, Read, Wilkie ... I always liked Wilkie. Making those pastries was my favorite," she said. \nCrouch has always gone tirelessly above and beyond what's expected when it has come to her duties as cashier, those who work with her say. Currently living in Owen County, she has risen at 4:30 a.m. every morning and driven nearly an hour to get to work in her midnight blue Chevy Lumina. \nBut her early work hours have never distracted from her warm rapport with students. Whether it is remembering the names of students or using her homey trademark greeting, "Have a good day, honey," when rapidly scanning through long lines of anxious patrons, Crouch has embodied the ideals of customer service, people who've gone through her line say.\nIn the summers, Crouch has been known to make brownies for the Freshman Orientation Leaders, which junior Beth Levy calls "unbelievable," \nCrouch can regularly be seen cackling with students at tables or chatting with the food court staff over cigarettes in the back alley. But working with Crouch is a lot different than being on the receiving end of her charm. \n"Lou is strictly by the book," Kim Werner, a Wright Food Court cashier said. "She's a sweetie but she doesn't hesitate to let you know when you're doing something wrong. If you forget to check someone's bag or miss a side order she'll call you on it immediately."\nExecutive Director of Residential Programs and Services Pat Connor and the Wright Food Court staff held a party for Lou on her last day in Wright. Laughing over cake and cookies, Connor and others gave retirement gifts to a lady they say "will be sorely missed." \nCrouch says she received a sliver tray with her name and the years she worked engraved on the front and some traditional IU china from the old days of IU cafeterias. \nCrouch intended on retiring in December but her husband's worsening health problems encouraged her to retire prematurely. Crouch said she plans to spend more time with her family relaxing, gardening, adding to her ever-growing angel statue collection and taking care of her husband. \nBut don't expect to never see her again on the IU campus. Several of her children graduated from IU and three of her sons currently work on campus. \nCrouch added rosily with a fleshy grin before clocking out, "Now don't you worry about ole' Lou, honey, I'll be okay. I'll pop in from time to time to visit. Let's not lose touch — you were always one of my favorites." \n-- Contact staff writer Brett Warnke at bawarnke@indiana.edu.