Norman — After 26 years of work, a University of Oklahoma employee’s name will be preserved along a university building and a gooey Crossroads grilled cheese sandwich.
Theta Dempsey, director of OU Parking and Transportation, is retiring from OU Friday.
During a reception honoring Demp-sey’s work Monday afternoon, she was surprised with news by OU President David Boren that the university plans to name its transportation operation center, 510 E. Chesapeake St. — constructed November 2008 on OU’s research campus — the Theta Dempsey Transportation Operation Center.
Boren said the recognition will be made official at the March OU Board of Regents meeting.
“Flabbergasted comes to mind,” said Dempsey of her name engraved along a university building. “That’s going to take some getting used to.”
And for her loyalty to Crossroads grilled cheese sandwiches in the Oklahoma Memorial Union — whose sales might plummet in her absence, joked Dave Annis, director of OU Housing and Food Services — the cheese, butter and bread concoction was renamed the Theta Dempsey Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
“This is partly an honor and partly self preservation,” said Annis, who added the sandwich is now on the menu.
And for Debra Skinner, who works in the OU Board of Regents office, it’s the smile and patience of this parking czar that she’ll miss the most.
“She’s been here always,” said Skinner, who has worked at OU for 20 years. “It’s rare to know someone who’s been here that long or longer. It’s somewhat sad to see this change happen to the university.”
Despite heading a department notorious for its love-hate relationship on campus, her fair personality made her well liked, said Kris Glenn, director of marketing and public relations for Cleveland Area Rapid Transit, motioning as proof to the receiving line at Dempsey’s reception studded with bank presidents, university administrators and employees from other OU offices, along with representatives from the offices of Gov. Brad Henry and Congressman Tom Cole, R-Okla.
“You don’t miss the work. You always miss the people,” Dempsey said. “And I only live four blocks from here, so I’ll be back to visit the people.”
Nanette Light366-3541nlight@normantranscript.com
