EX-SECRETARY HELPED COLLEGE START, GROW IN VALLEY.

Byline: Bettie Rencoret

LANCASTER - When Nellie Parker came to an alfalfa farm in the Antelope Valley as a teen-ager in 1927, she couldn't even imagine where her life would lead her.

Her family moved to their farm at 70th Street West and Avenue G, near the old Esperanza School that was later used as the Westside Union School District administrative office.

The town of Lancaster covered less than one square mile with about 1,000 living in its boundaries.

She had no idea there would be a new college campus - let alone that she would become secretary to five college presidents.

``There wasn't much to the town in those days,'' she said. ``I remember the railroad depot, the Methodist church, the Safeway store, the elementary school, the Lancaster Inn and, of course, the high school. I graduated from there in 1929.''

She wanted to be a teacher, but the Depression began, and her family didn't have enough money to send her away to college.

``As an alternative I set my sights on business education, and I've never regretted it.''

In the fall of that year, she enrolled in the first Antelope Valley Junior College class, which was held in a study room on the Antelope Valley Joint Union High School campus.

``By the end of 1930, the class enrollment had dropped to only seven students. I remember the only person in the first graduating class - in 1931 - was Byron Chase,'' she said.

She recalls that the late Dr. Roy A. Knapp, for whom the Antelope Valley College library is named and the district superintendent in those years, fought hard to keep the college going.

After a year of study at the new college, Nellie held stenographic jobs until she married Max Simpson in 1934.

For 10 years, she enjoyed her role as a wife and mother. Then, when their second son was just 3 months old, her young husband died of a massive heart attack. She was a widow at 33.

``That was in 1944. With no other way to support my two small sons, I had to go back to work. In August, Dr. Knapp hired me as records clerk and secretary to David Roach, who was a dean at the college,'' she said. ``It had been 15 years since I was a student there.''

The next few years were fraught with change. World War II came to an end. The valley's population grew by leaps and bounds, and so did the college enrollment.

In 1947, Knapp was asked to devote all his time to being superintendent. He had been doing double duty as business manager, so a new person was assigned to that job.

When the change came, he asked Nellie to become his full-time secretary.

She held that position until domestic considerations kept her at home for a year. In 1952, she went back as secretary to Frank Fleming, who served as the college dean or president.

``I was the only classified employee working in the office at the time, so I had to do everything. I was secretary and clerk, registered students, did attendance accounting, collected student body fees and handled illness excuses and anything else that came up in the daily routine,'' she said.

With the influx of aerospace industries in the 1950s came more population - and need for more college facilities. The 1950 census put the population at just over 5,000, and more people came in each year.

World War II barracks buildings were brought in to house classes on a barren lot at Third Street East and Kettering Street.

``We suffered with spartan conditions. There was no landscaping, no air conditioning and no indoor restroom facilities. Outdoor privies were what we had,'' she laughed.

Knapp, she said, was instrumental in 1961 in persuading the school board to purchase 110 acres on Avenue K at 30th Street West, the current site of the college.

When the doors opened at the new campus, Nellie was there, but Fleming had left. She served as secretary to Burt Wadsworth, interim college president until the arrival of Dr. Lowell Barker.

Barker left to take a similar position with Merced College, but Nellie stayed and served as secretary to Clyde McCully, the dean of education who became acting superintendent. McCully went to a new position when Dr. James Starr arrived. Again Nellie stayed.

She married Harold Parker, a Palmdale School District superintendent, in 1968.

Starr was replaced by William Kepley, and she was Kepley's personal secretary until he transferred her to a position in the library in 1970.

She finished out her career at the college working with the head librarian, Lois Hughes, who became a close friend.

After more than 31 years of work for the college district, she retired in 1976 to the accolades of her co-workers, Knapp and Knapp's successor, Clinton Stine, at a special party. Then she and her husband enjoying traveling to Alaska and other parts of the United States, Canada, and much of Europe.

A widow again since 1990, she stays busy.

``I used to walk a lot, but I've gotten lazy lately. Besides, I'm almost afraid to go out walking anymore in this day and age. Even at that, I love the Antelope Valley. I don't think I'll ever leave here.''

She does crewel work, embroiders baby clothes, crochets afghans, gardens, cooks and reads. She is active in her Methodist church supper club and devotes time to her brother in a local convalescent home.

LANCASTER - Seniors are reminded that the annual prefair program will be held this year at the Antelope Valley Senior Center, 777 W. Jackman St.

The program, open to all seniors, will begin at 2:30 p.m. Thursday and spotlight local entertainment.

Larry Skaggs, president of the Friends of the Center, said refreshments will be served, and a drawing will be held for ride for two in a hot air balloon.

LANCASTER - Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster, Palmdale and Pearblossom have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk.

Monday: Juice, macaroni and cheese with ham, stewed tomatoes, three-bean salad, cookies.

Tuesday: Beef pot roast, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, tossed salad, Jell-O with pears.

Wednesday: Juice, turkey a la king, biscuit, spinach, tossed salad, peach crisp.

Thursday: Hearty beef stew, rice, coleslaw, fruit.

Friday: Meatloaf, baked potato, corn, marinated veggies, ice cream.

MEMO: This column is devoted to activities and news of interest to all senior citizens. Those with any information pertaining to that age group are invited to contact Bettie Rencoret, 943-2998 or leave messages at the Antelope Valley Bureau Daily News offices, 267-5741.

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Photo

Photo: Nellie Parker, a retired local college secretary, st ays active.