Heather Adams
Published: October 12, 2005
Dr. James Callaway, PJC Registrar, is retiring at the end of the month, and everyone is sad to see him go.
“Everybody likes James Callaway. I’ve never met a soul who didn’t like him, and I’ve never heard a negative word about him,” said Keith Prendergast, of the English and Communications Department.
Even Callaway is sad to be leaving.
“I’m very sad. PJC has been part of my life for 34 years. I’ve enjoyed it, but it was just retirement time,” he said.
Callaway, who has also been a teacher and an advisor, previously held the position of PJC director of student services on both the Pensacola and Warrington Campuses. Callaway is currently the PJC registrar, and he will maintain that position until he officially retires at the end of October. A registrar is responsible for admissions to all college programs, and he also deals with registration and student records.
Callaway was on several committees, which included the CLAST committee, the commencement committee, the long range planning committee, and he was chairman of the registration committee for 12 years.
A retirement celebration was conducted for Callaway on October 7, and nearly 100 guests celebrated with Callaway for more than two hours.
Several people who spoke at the event said that it was very emotional. Martha Caughey, admission and registration coordinator, was a co-chairperson for the celebration.
“I knew I wouldn’t be able to get through my speech. I probably got through about three sentences,” Caughey said.
Dr. Charlie Schuler, the head of the history, languages, and philosophy department, said, “It was the first time I ever remember getting emotional in front of an audience. I guess that’s what happens when the heart takes over from the head.”
When asked about his retirement celebration, Callaway said, “In the 34 years I’ve been at PJC it was the best I’ve attended. I was well, well pleased, delighted, really. I was overwhelmed.”