For Immediate Release:
May 19, 2006

Contact:
Nanci Gonder
Office of Public Information
573-751-6062

“Little Red Tornado” Wins 2006 Older Worker of the Year Contest

Frances Trentham, 68, also known as the “little red tornado” because she gets by on four hours of sleep a night and walks faster than she drives, has just won Missouri's 2006 Older Worker of the Year Contest. A recognition luncheon for her and 11 statewide finalists took place at the Governor's Mansion earlier this month, coinciding with other nationwide celebrations to honor Older Americans in May.

Trentham, who also swims and works out at the local Y on her lunch hour, won the annual contest because of her loyalty and creativity on the job, and because she is forcing us to rethink what retirement means. She will earn her General Studies degree from Crowder College this year—the same place where she works more than 40 hours per week. “I put my husband and three sons through school, so I figured it was my turn,” says Trentham, who began her career at Crowder College at 55, a time when many dream of retiring. She started in student services and helped launch the college as an approved testing center for the General Education Development Test (GED) and Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT). And today, the “little red tornado”—as her husband, who coined the name, calls her—is assistant to the dean of students.

“My proudest accomplishment is helping my children and others succeed in school, especially those with low self-esteem. Some say, ‘I'm too old to start that.' And I say, never!”

“One day,” says Trentham, “I might like to see an art museum in Russia and visit Spain.” For now, though, she has no plans of retiring.

Other stories about Missouri seniors who are changing our perception of what it means to age appear on the Department of Health and Senior Services' Web site throughout Older Americans Month this May, http://www.dhss.mo.gov/OlderAmericansMonth/. To view the articles, click on the blue-and-orange Older Americans Month logo.

The 16th annual Older Worker of the Year contest is sponsored by the Missouri Senior Employment Coordinating Committee, consisting of the AARP Foundation; Experience Works; U.S. Forest Service; Cardinal Ritter Senior Services, Jewish Vocational Services; Department of Economic Development/Division of Workforce Development; and Department of Health and Senior Services/Division of Senior and Disability Services.