The Monongalia County Circuit Clerk’s Office is losing a familiar face this week with the retirement of Cathy Golleher, a 48-year staff member.
“You always know it’s coming, but when it comes you don’t really realize that you’ve reached that plateau, ” Golleher said during a party in her honor at the Monongalia County Justice Center Thursday afternoon.
Over the decades, Golleher held strong and adapted to changes as the courts grew.
“There have been so many changes, ” she said. “And if people know me, I’m not one to really accept a lot of changes, but there have been thousands of changes.
“I’ve been with probably 15 different judges, because we have had a lot of visiting judges that I clerked for. And you know I met a lot of great people, and I enjoyed it, I had fun, it was a great job.”
Monongalia County Clerk Donna Hidock described Golleher as “a legend.”
The two have worked together for about 30 years and Hidock said Golleher will be greatly missed at the clerk’s office.
“I’ve been thankful I’ve had a lot of the people I have, ” Hidock said. “And Cathy, she taught us what we need to do … I’m hoping that some of that just rubbed off a little bit.”
Hidock said while Golleher is irreplaceable, the rest of the staff has really stepped up to the challenge.
“We might not do things as quickly or the same way, but we’re going to offer the same outstanding service that we always do, ” she said.
As for the future plans of the newly retired Golleher, “I’m going to be a grandmother which is what I want to be, ” she said.
Hidock said she is overjoyed for Golleher, but will miss their personal connection.
“I don’t mind that she’s retiring, she deserves it, but she’s my best friend and it’s very hard for me to know I’m not going to see her every day, ” she said. “She’s a phone call away and I wish her the best—she deserves every good thing that comes her way.”
