Blood Services Head Retires - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Blood Services Head Retires

He was only going to hold the job for a few years...if that.

That is what Rich Larcombe thought way back in 1976 when he accepted a part time job with United Blood Services in Minot.

Well that part time job turned into a career...and now, decades later, it is a career that is coming to a close today.

Perry Olson has more with Larcombe.

Forgive Rich Larcombe for only putting in a short day on Friday -- after all, its all he's got left at United Blood Service in Minot...

(Rich Larcombe - Retiring from UBS) "Stop in here, drop off the keys, credit card, ID passes...take whatever hasn't been removed already."

Larcombe is calling it a career today...and what a surprising career it has been. It was just a few days after Christmas in 1976 that the then college student stopped in for a job interview. Little did he know then, that would play a big role in his life...

(Rich Larcombe - Retiring from UBS) "Do the math and it comes out to 36 years and I never thought I would be here two or three."

He has seen plenty of changes in the field. Technology has improved blood drawing ability -- but at its core...it is still about one thing -- saving lives. It is something Larcombe has seen first hand during his stint here...remembering one particularly frantic effort to save a life in Minot...

(Rich Larcombe - Retiring from UBS) "We had blood coming in, HP, drivers, blood flown in from Billings, Scottsdale, Rapid City...trying to save this patient. That is the stuff that gets you very aware of where it is going and what is going on."

Sometimes those efforts were successful...sometimes not -- but always the effort to save lives through blood has been there for Larcombe...now though -- it is time to move on from something he says never felt like work...

(Rich Larcombe - Retiring from UBS) "...On March 1st I have to sit down and consider finding a real job..."

In Minot, Perry Olson, KX News.

Jennifer Charbano will take over as director at United Blood Service in Minot.