It’s easy to forget sometimes just how precious love is. Everywhere we turn, we’re confronted with couples who were once in love breaking up, seperated or divorced.

Many of us have lost our hope in the whole process of falling in love or worse: regard it as something temporary. However, every now and then we are given a glimpse of hope reminding us that love is not lost: that it’s alive and very powerful.

Gary and Carol Burdorf, two staff members at USI, are an example of this hope we’re shown.

Gary Burdorf works as the construction administrator in the physical plant on campus while his better half is the senior administrative assistant in the public safety department.

The two met in July 1973. At the time, Carol was dating a mutual friend of both Gary and Carol’s and was introduced. It wasn’t until later that summer that Gary mustered up the courage to ask Carol out.

Gary and Carol had their first date at a river camp Bar-B-Q on Old Henderson Road and later that evening watched the fireworks over Evansville in celebration of the 4th of July.

The two were wed five years later on February 18, 1978.

Gary had come home from the Naval Weather Service to marry Carol, and they spent a week honeymooning in Hawaii. The two moved to Guam and lived there for the next three years.

They agree that one of the major benefits of working at the same institution is the similar schedules and the opportunities they get to see each other during the day.

“The best advantage is the ability to ride together in the case of bad weather,” Carol said.

They also enjoy attending university functions, “because we both know each others associates,” Gary said.

The two will be spending a sweet Valentine’s Day with one another; a day that extends into the rest of the month.

“Because of the close proximity to our wedding anniversary, we celebrate every opportunity in the month of February,” Carol said. “Growing up, February was a special month for me with homemade cards, a small box of chocolates for all 12 of my brothers and sisters and celebrating my own parents’ wedding anniversary with friends and family.”

These two are lucky to have found one another, and when hearing them talk about one another, it becomes apparent that they don’t just love one another, they respect each other.