Geary Community Hospital recognized 42 employees that combine for 560 years of service at the hospital Tuesday night.

Among the employees recognized during the 15th annual GCH Employee Recognition Banquet at the Geary County Convention Center was Margaret Wilson who is celebrating 45 years with the hospital.

Wilson works in the environmental services department as a housekeeper and said that it’s the people that make her job so special.

“I love people, working with different people and meeting different patients,” says Wilson.

Another long time employee is Laurel Peterson who is in charge of diabetic education at the hospital and has been at GCH for 30 years. She explained she never thought she would be at the hospital this long.

“The lady who hired me said ‘you live a long ways away so this probably won’t last, but we want to have you here.’ Thirty years later they haven’t gotten rid of me yet,” says Peterson.

In addition to receiving $5 for every year of service, the honorees received a service lapel pin and certificate from Dr. Joe Stratton, GCH CEO.