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Heartland Region reunites for GSA’s 70th anniversary

Senior Advisor to the Regional Administrator Judy Dungan (center) cuts the ceremonial cake to celebrate GSA's 70th anniversary
Senior Advisor to the Regional Administrator Judy Dungan (center) cuts the ceremonial cake to celebrate GSA's 70th anniversary at a regional reunion and open house June 26 as FAS Regional Commissioner Mary Ruwwe, long-serving GSA employee Joyce Swope, new GSA employee Stacy Bell and PBS Regional Commissioner Kevin Rothmier look on. Photograph by Gretchen Jabben

By Alison Kohler

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As GSA approaches its 70th anniversary on July 1, the Heartland Region hosted a reunion and open house June 26 to reminisce, connect with retired and former employees and celebrate GSA’s future.

“(A) wonderful celebration and reunion with friends,” said GSA Retiree James Ogden. “It’s fun to have attended them since I arrived during the 25th.”

Hundreds of GSA employees, former employees and retirees attended the open house, which featured remarks by Senior Advisor to the Regional Administrator Judy Dungan and a cake-cutting with long-serving and new employees.

“We wanted to invite our retired and former employees to this celebration, because you contributed as much to our success today as those still working in the Heartland Region,” Dungan said.

GSA Retiree James Ogden visits with former regional PBS employees Marcia Green and John Casey at the Heartland Region's reunion.
GSA Retiree James Ogden visits with former regional PBS employees Marcia Green and John Casey at the Heartland Region's reunion and open house to celebrate GSA's 70th anniversary June 26. GSA will mark 70 years since President Truman founded the agency on July 1, 1949. Photograph by Gretchen Jabben

Gwen Smith from the National Customer Service Center has been with GSA since 1969, and Joyce Swope from Region 6 Federal Acquisition Service has been with GSA since 1979. Stacy Bell from the Office of Human Resources and Management represented new employees, having been with GSA two days.

Several attendees expressed that they would like to see the reunion recur annually around GSA’s anniversary.

Former President Harry Truman, a native Missourian, founded GSA. GSA’s comprehensive mission-support role ties back to 1949 when Truman sought to create one agency to help the government avoid “senseless duplication, excess cost and confusion in handling supplies and providing space.”

“You can sense Truman’s spirit alive within GSA after all these years,” Dungan said. “GSA is poised to continue our strong legacy of transforming the work of the federal government,” Dungan said.

Kevin Rothmier, Judy Dungan, and Mary Ruwwe pose for a photo with Gwen Smith, GSA's longest-serving employee in Region 6.
PBS Regional Commissioner Kevin Rothmier, Senior Advisor to the Regional Administrator Judy Dungan, Gwen Smith, GSA's longest-serving employee in the Heartland Region, and FAS Regional Commissioner Mary Ruwwe pose for a photo at the regional reunion and open house June 26. Photograph by Gretchen Jabben
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Last updated: Jan 31, 2024
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