It's always dangerous to try to say who the most senior legislative staff person in terms of service is, because as soon as you identify one, there's likely to be another pop up someplace else. But it is hard to imagine that that there is (or has been) an older legislative staff person than former Nebraska assistant sergeant-at-arms Sally Gordon, who retired last year at 102 and passed away last week. From an AP story in Newsday:
A Nebraska woman once honored for being one of the nation's oldest working Americans died Tuesday, less than a year after she left her job in the Legislature and a career that included politicians, movie stars and profound moments in state history.
Family members said Sally Gordon died shortly after midnight at a Lincoln hospital, where she was staying after she fell in her home a few weeks ago. She was 102.
Gordon left her job last year as assistant sergeant-at-arms at the Nebraska Legislature, where she had worked since 1984, starting at age 75.
Every day that weather allowed, she walked seven blocks to the Capitol from her Lincoln home. She was honored as America's Outstanding Oldest Worker for 2010, given by Experience Works, the nation's largest nonprofit training center for older workers.
"Sally was a great Nebraskan, and we will miss her," said Gov. Dave Heineman.
Her resume included stints as a court reporter, a model, an employee at an engraving company and a secretary to three Nebraska governors. She hobnobbed with Shirley MacLaine and Gene Kelly, and once chatted with Lyndon B. Johnson on the steps of Air Force One. To regulars at the Nebraska State Capitol, she was the warm and welcoming presence who shuttled notes to lawmakers and helped prepare for legislative floor debate each morning.
A rose from The Thicket to Jeff Wice.
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