Lansford retires to praises, few complaints

July 31, 2011 at 5:24 a.m. | Updated July 31, 2011 at 5:24 a.m.

Karen Jennings, right, becomes emotional as she says "goodbye" to Charlie Lansford, at left, during a retirement party in honor of him in city hall. Jennings is director of the Jefferson City Animal Shelter and has worked closely with Lansford in preliminary phases of a new animal shelter. In the middle is Charlie's wife, Barbara Lansford.
Karen Jennings, right, becomes emotional as she says "goodbye" to Charlie Lansford, at left, during a retirement party in honor of him in city hall. Jennings is director of the Jefferson City Animal Shelter and has worked closely with Lansford in preliminary phases of a new animal shelter. In the middle is Charlie's wife, Barbara Lansford.

It's been a month of "lasts" for Charlie Lansford - his last City Council meeting, his last early morning pre-Council "Brown Bagel" meeting, his final committee meetings.

But when Lansford, 63, wakes up Monday morning at his new home in southwest Missouri, he'll have a "first" to go with that string of lasts - the first day he won't have to get up for work.

Friday was Lansford's last day on the job as a Jefferson City government employee - he's retiring after 36 years.

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