The first person former resident Bryce Jordan wanted to meet after his selection was Richard E. Grubb, senior vice president and dean of the Commonwealth Educational System.

But to Grubb's horror, Jordan scheduled the meeting on the first day of buck season.

After serious deliberation, Grubb told Jordan he could not meet with him on that day. "I never miss the first day of buck season," Grubb said to Jordan.

Grubb said Jordan laughed and rescheduled their meeting. "He told me, 'I don't want you to miss the first day of buck season,' " Grubb said.

Grubb, who will retire from the University on Sept. 30, has a collection of stories about the four presidents he worked for during his 30 years at the Univesity. All the presidents -- Eric Walker, John W. Oswald, Jordan and Joab Thomas -- have had their special strengths and differences, he said.

He said he particularly remembers Walker's clear-cut, direct approach. Many perceived Walker as "harsh," Grubb said, but it was just his style.

During his years at the University, Grubb said he has seen many changes in the students and the University. Students have become more active in University decisions, he said.

"When I started, to have a student on the (University) Board of Trustees was unheard of," Grubb said. "Now it would be unheard of not to have students there."

Grubb said the faculty has also become more vocal over the years through the University Faculty Senate. Faculty participation from the Commonwealth campuses as well as University Park has led to better decisions, he said.

The growth of the Commonwealth campuses' role within the University system has been one of Grubb's most important accomplishments, he said. The Commonwealth campuses now focus on providing services to their communities and returning adults instead of just feeding students to University Park, Grubb said.

Grubb "re-enrolled" the Commonwealth campuses into the University system, said Robert Arbuckle, campus executive officer of the New Kensington campus.

"He bridged the gap between the campuses and University Park," Arbuckle said.

When he heard of Grubb's retirement plans, Arbuckle said, "I sent him a note asking him to reconsider."

Arbuckle was not the only administrator unhappy to hear of Grubb's retirement.

"It will be hard to fill his shoes," said Ted Kiffer, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

Kiffer said he and Grubb used to share an office in the Center for the Study of Higher Education. Kiffer said Grubb impressed him because he was in the office every day by 6:30 a.m.

Grubb said he still comes to work at 6 30 a.m. -- 6:40 at the latest. He said it is his "thinking time."

Kiffer described Grubb as a "loyal, committed Penn Stater."

Grubb was born in State College and received all three of his degrees at Penn State. Between his wife and three children, the Grubbs have eight University degrees, Grubb said.

The only break he has taken from the University was from 1985 to 1987 when he served as the secretary of agriculture under then-Gov. Dick Thornburgh, Grubb said.

Grubb said he has no immediate plans after his retirement on Sept. 30, although he may do some consulting work. Hunting and watching game are the only definite plans Grubb has right now, he said.

Although he looks forward to his retirement, Grubb said it was a difficult decision to leave the University. He said it will be difficult to end a career as "fun and rewarding" as his has been.