New Year's Eve marked not only the end of 2014, but also the 28-year career of Rosemary Gannaway as the Callaway County auditor.
Gannaway, who was first elected to the position in 1986, is now a retiree, taking time off for rest and relaxation. She lived in Columbia for 15 years before returning to her hometown of Fulton. While in Columbia, Gannaway worked as a bookstore manager at Stephens College - an institution that gave her an opportunity to pursue higher education.
Gannaway graduated from Stephens in 1980 with a degree in business management and went on to help run an accounting partnership and earn her CPA. As her parents prepared for retirement, Gannaway decided to move back to her hometown of Fulton, where she continued to work for the partnership. Gannaway also found time to teach governmental accounting at William Woods University.
With the announcement of Bob Rankin leaving as Callaway's auditor in the mid '80s, Gannaway pondered running for the position. After consulting with one of her former accounting professors, she decided to put her name on the ballot. Gannaway called herself, "young and dumb" at the time, but the chance was one worth taking.
"You take chances then, and I did," Gannaway said.
Running unopposed, Gannaway won the election and was sworn in Jan. 1, 1987. She became the second auditor in Callaway County history. The county advanced to a Class 2 county from Class 3 in 1979, according to Gannaway, which required it to have an internal auditor.
Gannaway never ran opposed, something she said makes her "one lucky person."
"I always ran as if I was going to have opposition," Gannaway said. "You can't just take that for granted."
Gannaway said computerizing the auditor's office was a high priority in her first year as auditor.
"When I first came in, everything was done by hand," she said.
That was soon to change, though. Seeing the value in computers for their efficiency and reducing human error, Gannaway led the auditor's office into a new technological age. Her movement eventually caused the county clerk's office to do the same, she said.
"Getting into the digital era was very important to me," she said.
One of the biggest challenges Gannaway said she overcame was realizing government information was public after dealing with private financial information. A call from the Fulton mayor at the time helped her learn this lesson. The mayor requested information from Gannaway, which she denied. A fellow public servant, the mayor let Gannaway know more about the dissemination of public information.
Gannaway said the auditor is often referred to as the "watchdog of the county." While she said that's true, Gannaway added she didn't want that perception to come with negative connotations and she worked to create an open-door policy. After establishing a relationship with other county offices and the general public, Gannaway said she was used more and more as a resource. She would receive calls from people asking about other offices and was a dependable partner for the county commission in legal and bidding processes.
"That's a level of trust I've enjoyed over the years," Gannaway said.
Out of all the aspects of her job, Gannaway said she'll miss the people the most. Gannaway said she values the many friendships she's garnered in her time, including a special friendship with a group of women with whom she shared Friday lunches. This Friday lunch crew consisted of Gannaway; Linda Love, former county clerk; Marsha Chism, former treasurer; and Pam Oestreich, the current county collector.
"We just got all the problems of the world solved, and it was fun," Gannaway said.
Oestreich said Gannaway possesses many characteristics that made her a highly-qualified auditor for the county: her cool head, intellect, strong accounting background, eye for detail and more. On a personal note, Oestreich said Gannaway has provided her with daily friendship and a listening ear.
"She's been a great friend and confidant and she's been a great help to me in my years in office," Oestreich said.
Even after 28 years, Gannaway said being auditor was never a dull job.
"There's a lot of repitition, but there's always something new," she said on Wednesday. "I wouldn't be surprised if I find something new by 5 p.m."
Gannaway passes the baton to Karen Rentschler, a life-long Callawegian who has been a public accountant for 14 years.
The two have spent many days training, and Rentschler said she's ready for the challenge.
"I'm interested in having a hand in the overall good of the county," Rentschler said.
She added she's already enjoyed networking with auditors from other counties and creating a support system with them. Rentschler ran unopposed, which she said gave her time to focus on training instead of campaigning.
Her deputy auditor is Sara Schlueter, a 2013 Westminster College graduate with a degree in business administration. Schlueter replaces John Newsom as deputy auditor. Newsom served the county for seven years and decided to retire like Gannaway.
With her free time, Gannaway plans to continue her tax business and clean out closets. She may also eventually participate in volunteer work - but that will be after taking time for herself.
"It's been a fun run," she said.