Civic service takes on many faces.

There are those who run for elected offices or work out in the public.

Then there are those who work quietly in the background, shunning the spotlight while making sure the wheels of government run smoothly and needs of the needy are met from behind the curtain.

Diana Watson fits in the later category. As the administrative assistant in the Barton County Operations Office, among a myriad of duties, she coordinates the County Commission agendas, helps keep the commissioners informed and balances the needs of all county departments.

At the Barton County Girls Home, she’s a mentor, a shoulder to cry on and a friend to laugh with for her charges living there. 

But, that really doesn’t tell the entire story.

“Her historical background, and the support she provides the department heads, employees and commission is invaluable,” said Donna Zimmerman, retired county clerk, commissioner-elect and longtime friend of Watson. She couldn’t count the number of times she reached out to her to fill in the blanks or totally take the project and run with it. A Great Bend resident, she was born in Ellinwood. “We lived in town until junior high and then built a house near my grandparents, south of town. We’re several generations deep into Ellinwood.”

She graduated from Ellinwood High School and Barton Community College. She has also taken various work-related state-mandated classes.

At the Courthouse

Her “real job” is with the county.

“I started in the Appraiser’s Office in 1986. Because I was new, I had more free time than other employees in established positions, so it was easy to put me on duties related to reappraisal,” she said. This led to the county allowing her to attend various classes that culminated in being appointed the county’s mapping director.

“I’m really good at making maps – I just cannot apply them to real life,” she said, jokingly. “This was probably my dad’s biggest disappointment as I still don’t know my directions.”

She was “loaned” to the Administrator’s Office when there was need. “I thrived there and they asked me to stay, which worked out really well for the county since this led to the hiring of Bj Wooding and she’s a better cartographer than I am. 

“I will say that working for the county is the only full-time job I’ve ever had; although I’ve changed departments and positions, I’ve always been in the courthouse.”

Working for the Administrator’s Office – now called Operations, she’s been able help almost every office the county has. Here is a brief rundown:

• “I’ve cooked in the jail, went on prisoner transports and once, famously, got to help when we had an escaped prisoner.” 

• She painted in the Boogarts building when the county purchased that. 

• She’s helped during floods, ice storms and tornadoes. “The Hoisington tornado was particularly difficult as we were between administrators, had a bond issue going on and FEMA was here. 

“We worked countless hours during this period,” she said. “Oftentimes, it would be only me, department heads and elected officials sitting in meetings where a great deal of information was discussed. It was a weird place to be in as a line employee.”

• She’s sat in on murder trials. “When Lela Oglesbee was killed by a drunk driver, I was the unofficial contact between the Oglesbees and the County Attorney’s Office, eventually making the victim impact statement on behalf of the family. 

“We saw how that relationship played out for the betterment of both the Oglesbees and the county, and so I wrote and received the grant that started our Victim/Witness Program.”

• “I started off helping the County Clerk’s Office with testing election equipment,” she continued. “Then there was a really low worker count and they needed someone to step into a Great Bend polling place and I did that, which led to me working each election at the Ellinwood Parish Center, where I’m now the supervising judge.”

She said she feels it’s vital to have county employees work at polling places. She has most of the Clerk’s Office staff in her phone because they are friends. This makes it easy for her to text or call and ask questions. 

“If I didn’t have those relationships, I don’t know that I could so easily do that – although the Clerk’s Office always makes it clear that they are available to poll workers at any time,” she said.

• When the county started the Barton County Veterans Memorial at Golden Belt Memorial Park, the idea was that the county administrator would sit down with the families and complete the engraving applications. “It became apparent that he didn’t have the time and that duty was passed to me,” she said. 

“I was blessed with the sheer privilege of meeting with the majority of men and women whose names are on our stone. I heard so many stories,” she said. “Families gave me pictures and copies of poems and letters that were sent home. It’s been remarkable to get to meet with many people.”

But, “the sad part is that most of my new friends were World War II soldiers. I’ve also watched them pass. It’s been incredibly impactful to actually know so many that have given so much.”

• “I’ve been trusted to draft resolutions and policy, and write letters of support for the Commission,” she said. “I get to research statutes and chime in on plans and to have ideas for improvement for our operations. 

“It’s always exciting when I can add a little piece of something that creates a better future for our county. Even after 36 years here, I learn new things every day and we continue to find ways to improve services.” 

• During COVID-19, she helped the Health Department with the stats that were eventually released to the public. “That department probably worked harder during that period than anything I’ve seen to date.” 

• “Because I’ve had all of these experiences and have been in touch with so many people, I’ve been tasked with administration of the County’s Facebook page. It’s a vital link for sharing our story with the public and keeping taxpayers involved with our services.”

Beyond the Courthouse

Watson lost her son when he was born. 

But, “I am thankful to my friends and family that have so generously shared their children with me over the years,” she said. “I have some very special relationships that I would not have without their kindness.”

This segues into her other passion.

“Because apparently I can’t work some place without ‘Barton County’ in the name, I work Friday nights and Saturdays at the Girls Home,” Watson said. “We can have up to 10 girls, age 14-18, who are currently under the care of the Department of Children and Family.”

Theresa Browne, who was a dispatcher for several years, hired her. “I will say, as much as I love the children I have in my life, it was going to work at the Girls Home that really brought me back to life after losing my son,” she said.

“I didn’t realize how much joy I was missing until I got these girls,” she said. “My interpretation of the job is that we stand in their mother’s shoes until we can get them back home – or least to their next placement. That means we teach them to cook and clean, hygiene, critical thinking skills.

“We play games with them and arrange outings,” she said. “We hug them after phone calls and laugh at them when we sit down to supper together.”

The house is truly a “home,” she said. “Each season, the girls help me decorate and now that we have the inside where we want it, we’ve expanded to the yard. The house has been painted and we’re getting new windows. The girls help with all of this,” she said.

“They are learning, maybe not practical skills, but they can set a table in a pretty room and a make dump cake,” she said. 

For the last few years, she’s organized Christmas cards for the girls. “We list the girls’ initials and my friends and family ‘volunteer’ to send a card to whatever number of girls they choose.”

In return, they’ve had cards from as far away as Alaska, Florida, California, Texas and Maryland, and tons of local ones. “The girls remember and talk about how fun it was to receive so many cards. They get special little notes in them. It’s amazing.”

An unofficial “family” of hers in Texas has been able to buy them new shoes each Christmas and this year (although they don’t know it!) they are getting hoodies as well. “This leads me to my larger point, we teach them that, sometimes, you are blessed with picking your family, and the people that you pick support your hopes and dreams.

“Having worked so long at the county, I have a ton of contacts and that’s been a blessing at the Girls Home,” she said. “We’ve been able to utilize public health and law enforcement services to help us.”

In addition, her mom’s prayer group had a grandfriend program with the girls, which fell away during COVID. “But I’d love to start back up.” 

So, “I’ve worked at the Girls Home long enough that the girls I first worked with are having babies,” she said. “It’s been so fun to stay in contact with them and watch them grow. They Facebook, call and text me (and the rest of the women I work with) about daily. They ask questions and still need our advice. It’s an awesome village to be a part of.” 

At home

“Between work, the Girls Home and three dogs, I really don’t have much time,” said. “Sunday is my only day off and so I sleep and clean house.” 

However, “much to my surprise, I actually have a green thumb,” she said. And, “I love decorating. I’ve decorated my house, my office and the girls home.”

She started outside. “Container gardening is so much fun and brightens up my yard so much,” she said.

But, “now we’re branching out into planting in the ground. Can’t wait to see what each year’s flower gardens bring.” 

Community Connections is a regular feature of the Great Bend Tribune, showcasing people who live in the Golden Belt. We welcome readers to submit names of individuals who are active in the community that they would like to see featured in a future story. Send suggestions to news@gbtribune.com and explain their “community connections.”