Bill Keck will retire from South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service on Sept. 30. Keck has been the Extension educator for Pennington County for the past 17 years.

A reception to honor Keck for his distinguished service will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pennington County Extension Office, 601 E Centre St. To make reservations, call Kathy at 394-2199 Ext. 111.

A native of Pennsylvania and a graduate of Penn State University, he began his 33-year career with Penn State Extension as a 4-H/Livestock Agent in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pa.,in the summer of 1974.

Keck said that when he grew tired of carrying an umbrella and mud on his shoes in 1977, he decided to trade these in for cowboy boots and moved to Colorado Springs, Colo. as the 4-H/Agriculture Agent.

During his 14 years in Colorado he received the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Distinguished Service Award in 1985 and in 1987 the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Distinguished Service Award.

In 1991, he became the SDSU/Pennington County Extension Educator.

He is well-known for his efforts in the Master Gardener program, writing a weekly column in the Rapid City Weekly News, doing a weekly radio program on KOTA Radio and his weekly television program, Bobtanical Garden with KNBN Meteorologist, Bob Riggio.

Keck received the Distinguished Service Award from Epsilon Sigma Phi, the Extension Professional Organization in 2007 for his contribution to the South Dakota State Extension Service.

Keck and his wife, Jeanette, plan to relax, travel and visit their three children and one grandchild.