Mayors and managers come and go, but everyone who hangs around City Hall knows who really runs Athens: Clerk of Commission Jean Spratlin.
Over 51 years with the city and then the unified government, Spratlin became a sort of keeper of lore, able to recall events from decades ago or locate obscure paper documents, but vexed by technology.
Averse to publicity, Spratlin did not even want a public acknowledgement of her retirement, but acquiesced when Mayor Kelly Girtz promised to destroy a computer for her.
“No matter what your job is in this government, by the end of the first day, you know you’re really working for Jean,” Girtz said.
He then proceeded to recreate the printer scene from Office Space, taking a sledgehammer to a variety of aged and unused electronic equipment.
About 100 current and former elected officials and county employees gathered at City Hall on Friday to pay their respects to Spratlin and her long career in public service.
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