Terry Lanum's 46-year career at Marshall Browning Hospital holds true to the great Lanum family name

The staff of Marshall Browning Hospital held a retirement reception last week for Terry Lanum, 66, an immensely important member of the housekeeping staff at the hospital for nearly 46 years.

But, moreover, he is part of what might be best described as The Lanum Way here in Du Quoin.

His father, Theodore Lanum, died too early in 1965. So Terry, twin brother Jerry of Washington, D.C.; brother Theodore Lanum Jr. of Huntington Bach, Calif. and Donna Moss of Indianapolis were raised by their single mother, Armetia Ethel Lanum, who passed away on Dec. 20, 2009.

Armetia was one of the most respected women in Du Quoin, attending St. Paul Baptist Church and working for Du Quoin dressmaker Country Set. She took care of not only her own children and grandchildren, but in retirement took care of other children of working couples in Du Quoin.

She was down-to-earth, caring, kind and taught life's lessons to all she came in contact with. But, moreover, she taught propriety and a strong work ethic, lessons sometime forgotten today.

An uncle, Andrew Lanum, worked for many years for the U.S. Postal Service in Du Quoin--one of the finest men ever to carry the mail.

"I was 21 years old--three years out of high school," Terry remembers, when he joined the hospital staff. That was in November 1968. "My family talked to Alice Chambers and got me the job. Mr. Fredrickson was the hospital administrator.

" I liked being around people," he said. "We all kind of bonded. I always worked in housekeeping at the hospital. I had good people who work alongside me. I like to keep everything clean and sterile," he said. "I have been treated with a lot of respect. I had a good teacher in Ralph Keeler," he said. "He made me clean until I got it right," Terry smiles.

The hospital's marketing director and longtime friend Pam Logan said, "We had a large crowd who attended the reception...many employees, past employees and the public. Working in the same position at the same hospital for 46 years is pretty remarkable. As I told Terry, his position is replaceable but he is not. In my opinion and many others, you could not find a more dedicated, hard working employee. He will be very missed!"

"I would like to travel," said Terry. "I have always wanted to do that."

"I will work for the hospital auxiliary," said Terry.

Doing the right thing and staying involved is part of The Lanum Way.