Low-key Lank gets high-profile send-off

As director of Sussex County Planning and Zoning, Lawrence Lank has one of the most high-profile jobs in the county, yet he works hard to stay low on the radar when it comes to personal accolades.

When he announced his retirement after working 47 years for Sussex County, he was adamant he didn't want any fuss.

“He was outvoted,” said County Administrator Todd Lawson during a Dec. 16 party in his honor at the Georgetown fire hall. The hall was packed with family and friends, co-workers and hundreds of people on the who's who list of Sussex Countians.

Lank, 71, began employment with the planning and zoning department in 1969 as a draftsman, then as planning technician and later assistant director. In 1985, he was promoted to director, a position he's held ever since. He plans to work to the end of the first week of January when Janelle Cornwell takes over as director of the department.

Most people are not aware that his job with Sussex County government was not his first. He worked as a draftsman at NASA's Wallops Island for four years. That means he's been working for more than half a century.

“You have to understand that he didn't want any of this, but it's a good decision we have made to celebrate his service to the county,” Lawson said.

Lawson said Lank was not only an employee but an institution. “This is not a retirement. This is the end of the legacy. Lawrence is an institution within the Sussex County government as well as the Sussex County community. How do you replace an institution? Well, the answer is you don’t. You just don’t,” Lawson said.

Incredibly, as the longest-tenured employee in county history, Lank has served with every elected and appointed official in county history including 22 county council members, 29 planning and zoning commissioners and 22 board of adjustment members. “And he literally helped write the book on Sussex County code and drew the original zoning maps,” Lawson said. He started working for the county before there was zoning.

He was presented with a framed rendition of that first zoning map of the county as a gift from county employees.

Seated with his wife, Robin, clerk for county council, and other family members Lank did not want to sit on the stage, but did made the short walk when he was presented with resolutions from the Delaware House and Senate.

In the early 1970s the Delaware General Assembly granted Sussex County home rule and the ability to establish the current system of government. Since then, thousands of applications have passed through Lank's office for subdivisions, conditional-use requests and an amazing 12,000 board of adjustment applications.

Lawson said Lank has survived so long in the county's sometimes difficult political climate because of his easy-going personality and character. “He's always patient, a good listener and he has always known when to bite his tongue,” Lawson said.

Life-long friend and fellow Seaford schoolmate Council President Mike Vincent said Lank would now have more time for his other passion, golf.

He said when you asked Lank a question about the county he didn't have to look it up in a book. “It's all up here,” he said pointing to his head. “I don't know how he did that. We are going to miss him.”

Former County Administrator Dave Baker said Lank knows more about Sussex County than anyone. Baker said he talked Lank out of retiring a decade ago because he needed help writing the 2007 comprehensive land-use plan. “I told him it was my last one, and he said it was his last one too,” Baker said.

Baker said most people never realize the countless hours Lank worked at night, preparing for public hearings and meetings. “He was always bombarded during the day and never had time,” Baker said.

Another former county administrator, Joe Conaway, called Lank one of the best county employees ever. “Somebody will take your place – your job,” Conaway said. “But nobody will ever take your place.”

Lawson read letters from Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Bob Wheatley and former County Administrator Bob Stickels, who could not attend the event.

Wheatley said he has shared the dais with Lank on more than 600 Thursday nights at planning and zoning commission meetings over the past two decades. “Your encyclopedic knowledge of the ordinances and your vast institutional memory are truly impressive and will be sorely missed,” Wheatley wrote.

“Your 47 years of county service are unmatched. You are the Cal Ripken of Sussex County,” Stickels wrote.

Lawson said the decision to retire was tougher because Lank has always referred to his co-workers as his other family. “This was not an easy decision for Lawrence. We all know he has been threatening to leave for quite some time. And he never thought the time was quite right. Perhaps that is because he knew if he made the decision he would have to leave his other family,” he said.

“But now the time is right,” Lawson added. “And while we hate to see him go, we wish Lawrence the very best in his next chapter of life.”

“Wow. I didn’t expect this at all,” Lank said. “My one fear was that my two sons would show up – one is in Florida and one is in North Carolina – because I would cry. I might cry anyway. I just don’t know what to say. I really appreciate this. That’s all I can say.”

And in true Lawrence Lank fashion, he said, “Now I have to get back to work.”

Other significant historical happenings in 1969 – Neil Armstrong took man’s first steps on the moon; half a million strong ended up at Woodstock; Walmart was incorporated; Joe Namath lived up to his promise and led the Jets to an upset win over the Colts in Super Bowl III.