Clovis Municipal Schools Executive Director of Operations Gene Bieker said he enjoys ensuring that Clovis students learn in safe and clean buildings.

Bieker's wife, daughters and three granddaughters.

Bieker when he was 18 years old in 1966.

Clovis resident Gene Bieker has worked for the Clovis Municipal Schools for 13 years and is headed for retirement this summer. Bieker retired from a career in the military after four years spent in the Navy and 22 years spent in the Air Force.

As executive director of operations for CMS, Bieker oversees maintenance, custodial, transportation, energy management, security and a part of new construction.

“Life safety is first for our kids and our employees,” he said. “We keep a secure environment to support the instructional side of the house.”

Bieker said keeping up with roofs is the beginning of all things operations.

“If roofs are bad, we will have problems everywhere under it,” he said.

Bieker said he enjoys that his days are varied and unpredictable.

In retirement, Bieker said he plans to focus on travel, golf and fishing.

What do you enjoy about working in operation? The different challenges that are presented daily.

What will you miss when you retire? The people. They make the job enjoyable.

Who is your favorite entertainer? Jeff Dunham, the ventriloquist. It amazes me when he carries on a three- or four-way conversation with his puppets.

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Which of CMS’s buildings do you enjoy the most? I love Marshall. Marshall was built during a time when things could go in the building like terrazzo tile floors. You can’t afford to do that anymore. It’s beautifully designed and I enjoy looking at it and working on it.

When I get in my car, the first thing I listen to is...60s music.

If I had an open plate ticket to anywhere, I would go to... Germany. It is a beautiful country and the people are friendly ad enjoy life.

When you were a kid, what did you think you’d be doing as an adult? Air traffic controller. Never quite made it.

What do you think about Clovis? Good community to live in. Schools are great and caring. Cost of living is good. If you really need something you can’t get here, Amarillo and Lubbock are close.

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Tell us about a happy time. When my father, brother and myself would be working together fixing one of our cars.

What’s your favorite TV show, past and present? “NCIS.” It’s interesting and challenging you as to the outcome.

What is your greatest hope? That all of our grandchildren will grow up having wonderful lives. They should enjoy their lives as much or more than we have.

Who is your hero and why? Lt. Col. Randolph White. He was a prisoner of war for eight years in Vietnam and survived. His character is one of quiet self confidence and he sees the world as a much better place than what he was subjected to.

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The most unique place I’ve ever traveled is to...Taiwan. It is an island country of extremes. Scenic, hot, humid yet the weather is comfortable. Rural and urban areas that range from the very old to the modern traditions.

What’s your favorite part about your job? Seeing the results of our effort to keep the kids in a decent, clean and comfortable building.

— Compiled by Freedom New Mexico staff writer Liliana Castillo