Two St. Joseph News-Press employees with nearly 100 years of combined service retired Friday.

Maggie Lyle, 80, started as a Linotype operator on Nov. 14, 1950, and retired as a proofreader in the Advertising Department. Richard Thacker, 62, began his career in advertising sales on Sept. 3, 1968, and eventually worked his way up to major accounts/national manager for the Advertising Department.

Ms. Lyle said she started at the News-Press because she wanted to join the typographical union and then move to Kansas City. Instead, she stayed for 57 of the newspaper’s 162 years in St. Joseph. Her career began at a time when few women worked in the world of setting type with hot lead.

“There was no air conditioning back then, so it got up to 110 degrees,” she said. “I just decided to stay and stay and stay. You can tell I’m not one for moving around.”

Ms. Lyle advanced from running the Linotype machine to proofreading display ads in the News-Press and other publications owned by NPG Newspapers. She said she has no plans for her retirement but might do some volunteer work.

Mr. Thacker said he started working at the News-Press two weeks after marrying his wife, Willa. He said he’ll miss the people more than the work and hasn’t quite decided what he’ll do with his free time.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said, adding that he will take the role of “family chauffeur.”

David R. Bradley, News-Press publisher, praised Mr. Thacker for his relationship with national advertisers and Ms. Lyle for her attention to detail. “They’ve been dedicated long-term employees,” he said. “We’re going to miss them both.”

Ms. Lyle admits to feeling somewhat conflicted about leaving and says she’ll miss her home away from home. She still misses that old Linotype machine.

“I just liked it here. Everybody was very nice,” she said. “I believe what Confucius says, ‘If you love your job, you never have to work a day in your life.’”