Regional school district representatives celebrated the careers of four retiring superintendents with more than 130 years of experience between them during a meeting of the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative on Wednesday.

Among the retiring superintendents was Leon Smith of Russellville Independent Schools, who bid an emotional farewell as he capped off a career spanning more than 33 years. Bart Flener will step into Smith’s role after he retired June 30.

Smith celebrated his retirement along with Mike Deaton of Campbellsville Independent Schools, Janet Meeks of Breckinridge County Schools and Owens Saylor of Daviess County Public Schools.

Superintendent Roger Cook of the Taylor County School District grew up with Smith and remembers him as a loyal and generous friend who helped lead him away from his troubled past.

“To be honest with you, I was getting in trouble and fighting and was headed down the wrong path,” Cook said to a roomful of school district superintendents and personnel. “He’s too humble to take credit for it, but he befriended me and he helped me get straight.”

Things turned around for Cook after Smith talked him into playing football.

“He talked me into playing football, where you hit people and they clap for you,” Cook said, getting some laughs. “I thought ‘this is all right!’ ”

When Meeks looks at her success, she traces it back to the school lunch ladies who made her feel special when she was growing up with six siblings, a hardworking mother and a father known as the town drunk.

“The lunch ladies adored me,” she said. “When they saw me enter the cafeteria, they made me feel like a princess. They said ‘There’s our pretty little girl. Oh, she’s so smart. Oh, what are you doing today,’ and I remember that like it was yesterday … . Just remember, every kid only needs one person.”

Along with the retiring superintendents, GRREC members recognized many other retiring school personnel.

Brad Hughes of the Kentucky School Boards Association is also retiring after 24 years with the organization. Hughes has been a journalist for 44 years and thanked the GRREC members for educating him through countless interviews and relationships over his career.

“You have taught me something,” he said. “I’d like to say to my teachers thank you very much.”