Few Iowa State employees can boast that they have worked here for 50 years. Charles Benn can.

Benn began working at ISU in September of 1945. He is currently doing photo technician work for the Biomedical Communications Department in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

“He is terrific,” said Jim Fosse, Benn’s supervisor. “There isn’t any other way to describe him. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

“He’s a joy to work with,” added Steve Pendry, who also works with Benn. “He is thoroughly dedicated to doing the best work he can. He’s an all-around delightful person.”

Benn was a photographer in the U.S. Army and the Air Force before he was hired by ISU as an extension photographer. When he started, he was the only photographer available to take pictures around campus.

Back when Benn began working here, he said, the enrollment was only about 6,000 students and consisted of mainly service people who were coming back from World War II.

Benn said it was “a little quieter time” then. “There were no parking problems, either,” he added.

Even after 50 years of service to ISU, Benn said, he is happy with his work.

“It’s definitely just something different every day,” he said. “I love it just as much now as I did then.”

For Benn, one this stands out. “It’s the students,” he said. “They’re just friendly, good kids.”

As an ISU employee, Benn’s co-workers say he has proven to be a valuable resource.

“He’s the kind of person I can give work to and don’t have to check on,” Fosse said. “He takes it and gets it done.”

Fosse said Benn has been a great supporter of veterinary educators.

“He enhances lectures,” Fosse said. “His work is quality stuff.”

But with much of his life ahead of him, Benn said, he has made no plans for leaving ISU any time soon.

“As long as my health and abilities will allow me, I will stay,” Benn said. “I have no real desire to leave, and each day is a new challenge.”