SLIPPERY ROCK — No person in the history of the State System of Higher Education has dedicated more years to teaching at one institution than Wilma Cavill.

Cavill, who turns 85 this month, is retiring after 57.5 years of instructing at Slippery Rock University.

“No one is ever going to beat that record; she's going to have that record forever at any PASSE school,” said Joseph Cali, chairman of the Safety Management Department.

Before coming to SRU, Cavill also taught for six years in the New Castle School District, pushing the total time she's spent working as an educator more than six decades.

“Sixty-three years was getting close to insanity,” Cavill said about her decision to call it a career.

Cavill was an assistant professor of safety management, teaching four classes per semester.

Originally from New Castle, she graduated from Slippery Rock Teachers College in 1952 with a bachelor's degree in health education.

She earned a master's degree from Westminster College while teaching at New Castle and joined the SRU faculty in 1958 as a health and physical education instructor.

“I've had a very fascinating career here; every year has been different. The students make it different every semester and my responsibilities have changed almost every year,” she said.

After joining the faculty, she coached gymnastics for five years and swimming for 13 years.

She also has been active in the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, ever since the faculty first unionized in 1971. She served as its chapter president from 1974 to 1978.

Nearly every aspect of SRU has changed during her tenure.

In 1960, the institution moved from being a teachers college to a state university. In 1958, the enrollment was about 800 students and campus consisted of only five buildings near Main Street. Today enrollment is more than 8,600.

Even students who never had Cavill as an instructor, probably recognize her from her role as the grand marshal of commencement and other official ceremonies, which she has filled since 1997.

She performed that duty for the final time Saturday at SRU's fall commencement inside Morrow Field House, declaring the commencement as open and asking the audience to stand for the presentation of colors and singing of the national anthem.

Before the degrees were handed out Saturday, SRU President Cheryl Norton called Cavill to the podium to present her with an honorary doctorate of public service degree.

Cavill thanked Norton and the university saying “It has been my pleasure my entire life to serve these students.”

Cavill was also recognized at the council of trustees' quarterly business meeting Dec. 4. She was presented with commendations from the council and from state system chancellor Frank Brogan.

Norton also presented her with a certificate naming her professor emeritus.

“That was a shock; that was a surprise. It's an honor very much desired by the faculty,” Cavill said.

In a statement, Norton said it was an honor to grant the emeritus status, which “is made in recognition of the individual's meritorious contributions to the educational mission and programs of the university.”

“During her 57-year tenure, she's been an outstanding member of the faculty, a coach, a champion for Title IX rights before there was a Title IX, one of the driving forces behind the development and growth of the faculty union, a donor and a campus leader, having served on numerous committees and task forces,” Norton said.

Cali, who has been Safety Management Department chairman since 1993, said that the faculty is losing two well-respected and long-serving members in Cavill and also George Mahalik who announced his retirement recently.

“Wilma Cavill is a beloved instructor and faculty member in the department. All the faculty are going to miss her as well as the students,” Cali said.

Cavill has taught members of at least three generations, including a child, parent and grandparent from the same family in a couple cases.

Cali noted that he has met people who still remember having her as an instructor more than 50 years ago.

“Last homecoming, I ran into a gentleman in the lodge and he pointed her out to me and said 'I'm retired now, but she was my instructor,'” he said.

Cavill said she is still in good health. She doesn't have anything specific planned for retirement, but hopes to do some traveling and continue to take classes and be active.