Richard Hasbrook has left his signature on Iowa State.

Hasbrook, contracts and grants officer and official signatory of Iowa State, is retiring after 41 years of service.

“I’m the institutional signator for ISU,” he said. “I sign awards, certificates, documents, legal documents between Iowa State and the various agencies who provide the funding for research.”

Hasbrook said he has signed his name thousands of times during the past 40 years. And he signs every document by hand.

“I sign my name hundreds of times a day, so its adds up … to a lot of pieces of paper that my name is written on,” he said.

Hasbrook came to Iowa State in May 1959 to work with the chemistry department. A few years later, he transferred to the contracts and grants office, where his position expanded to include all research grants and proposals at Iowa State.

The contracts and grants office tracks and maintains records of the progress of proposals prepared and submitted through Iowa State. Negotiation of awards is also conducted through the office, as well as the activities required to establish new awards into the Sponsored Programs Accounting Office.

Although he plays an important role in helping faculty and departments gain funding, Hasbrook does not accept undue credit.

“Over the years here, I’ve gotten to know wonderful, distinguished researchers with wonderful ideas and inventions,” he said. “I’ve simply had the privilege of helping them get the funding.”

However, his colleagues agreed that Hasbrook serves a vital role in research.

Provost Rollin Richmond said this is an important part of the university’s research mission that must run well.

“This office has been effective for a number of years, and Mr. Hasbrook can take pride in the substantial increases in external funding that have occurred during his tenure,” Richmond said.

Hasbrook admitted that he takes great pride in what he does and especially enjoys meeting the researchers and working with administrators.

“When I leave, I’m probably going to miss the researchers the most. I’ve known Henry Gilman, Earl Heady and Virgil Lagomarcino,” he said. “Now I also see the new, young researchers who will become these stars in the future.”

As for what lies ahead in Hasbrook’s future, he said he plans to continue his passion for raising Arabian horses and his love for his new grandson, Colin, who was born Dec. 22.

“My grandson will be baptized on Feb. 13, and then I’m traveling to Asia to see Bangkok, Thailand, and maybe Indonesia,” Hasbrook said.

He has been to Asia before for agricultural economics research projects at Iowa State and liked traveling there, so he wants to return.

Hasbrook’s duties will be turned over to Valrey Kettner, associate contracts and grants officer, on Feb. 1. There will be a retirement reception in honor of Hasbrook in Room 210 of Beardshear Hall today from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.