DeKALB – When Ray Bockman sat at his desk for the first time as DeKalb County administrator, there was not a single computer in sight.

Twenty-eight years later, the recently retired administrator had just helped the County Board approve a major upgrade to the fiber-optic network to help businesses and Northern Illinois University realize technological efficiencies.

The switch from mail to email was just one of many changes Bockman experienced during his 32 years with the county – 28 of which were spent in the top spot of administrator. He retired Nov. 30.