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| Linda b Johnston |
First,
please tell us a little about your job.
I am currently a Secretary III in Pharmaceutical Service (PS). I was hired in January 1990 to handle purchasing for the department and the College of Pharmacy, answer phones and the inter-com, and provide secretarial support to the director of PS and anyone in the department. This was BC (before computers). Currently I still provide secretarial support to the director and staff, handle some HR problems, assemble project batch records for the pharmacists, maintain and audit staff and student records for payroll and many other projects that come along with the position.
Why did you come to the University of Iowa?
The previous position I held was with Thatcher Plastics of Muscatine. They sold to a company in West Virginia and were in the process of moving all positions to WV. I went to work as a temporary in Washington, Iowa and was looking for a permanent position. I had applied at the University and interviewed for a position in the hospital and a position in Pharmaceutical Service. I was offered both but accepted the position in PS and I have never regretted the choice.
What’s the most unexpected thing that has happened to you at work?
A surprise party for my birthday, but I’m not saying which one.
Tell us more about your life outside of work. – What are your hobbies?
Spending as much time with my family as I possibly can. My mother is 96, my grandson is 13, my granddaughter is 10 and I learn something new about them every time we are together. My hobbies are flower gardening, attending antique tractor shows with my husband, entertaining friends, and currently I am learning how to make tatted lace.
As a child what career did you dream of?
I really wanted to be a draftsman. I wanted to study drafting in High School, but the guidance counselor pushed me in another direction.
What
was your first job?
My first jobs were working on the farm for my parents. My brothers had all left home so my sister and I got to do all those fun jobs like baling hay, milking cows, and all those things that it takes to get the farm work done. My first paid job was managing a small beauty salon and working as a hairdresser.
If you could have dinner with a famous person, who would it be?
One person is so hard to select, but if I have to, I guess it would be the Canadian actor/writer, Steve Smith A.K.A. “Red Green”. I got to personally meet him when we attended a taping of the “Red Green” show in Toronto, in the fall of 2005.
Tell us about your favorite things:
Food: comfort foods, baked steak, pot roast, potatoes, carrots, onions and my cherry or apple pie.
Drink: Homemade lemonade with lots of sugar and ice.
Books: Mostly books on gardening, Jan Karon’s “The Mitford Years” series, old mystery writers, Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendall, Colin Dexter.
Music: Classical music from Strauss to Mendelssohn, Classic Rock-my favorite-“The Moody Blues”, Celtic music, “The Chieftains”, “The Elders”, to some good old “Honky Tonk music from Willie Nelson and friends.
Movies: I am a big fan of old movies, but my favorite is probably anything with Cary Grant.
Favorite Sports Team: Has to be any kind of sport my grandchildren happen to be playing here at Columbus Community. Robby plays football, basketball, wrestling, currently out for track. Tori is in ASA softball, playing second base and doing some pitching. She also has aspirations of being a great volleyball player. |
