MOUNT VERNON — When Bill Shuler joined Skagit County Community Action Agency in 1982, the staff of 20 operated three or four programs out of a downtown office building.

Now Shuler, 68, walks through three buildings just off Riverside Road. The staff of 130 operates more than 25 different programs for the county and even oversees programs that reach as far as Whatcom and Snohomish counties.

As he said goodbye to the staff on his last day Friday, Shuler even stumbles on a few first names. But that’s how he likes it — fresh, new employees taking the helm of Community Action and moving it forward with young talent.

“These folks, they may not make a lot of money, but they’re really committed to making something worthwhile,” Shuler said.

Tuesday, Skagit County commissioners spoke highly of Shuler’s work, along with Mount Vernon Mayor Bud Norris, who was on the commission when Shuler was hired in 1982.

“You created an agency that has been a model for the state,” Commissioner Don Munks said. “With revenues dwindling, it becomes that much more important that we rely on agencies like Community Action.”

Community Action oversees an array of programs for homeless and working poor, which range from housing assistance, food assistance, health access and education. The agency has its main office in Mount Vernon, but operates satellite offices in Concrete and Oak Harbor.

This year, the agency completed a remodel on its family housing shelter. Families can stay in the temporary housing for six months while Community Action assists in job hunting and apartment seeking. After six months, if the agency and client are unsuccessful, the family can move into a transitional housing program for another year.

These are just a few of the programs Shuler helped establish at Community Action in the 26 years he served as director.

Before he signed on at Community Action, he worked as an administrator at Skagit Valley College and as a community affairs consultant in Gov. Dan Evans’ office.

“Even though I had no experience in Community Action, I had enough background in management,” Shuler said. “If I didn’t know the answer, I could find out pretty quickly.”

Bill Henkel, who spent eight years at Community Action until he took a job this spring at the Whatcom County Homeless Service Center, will take over as director of Community Action.

Facing retirement, Shuler said he doesn’t like to sit still. He’s already been offered positions at other nonprofits across Western Washington, but he’s not interested in leaving Skagit County. He’ll relax through the football season and attend University of Washington football games, but after that, he’s ready to dive back into some sort of volunteer work, maybe even for Community Action.

“Together, staff and I built it all from scratch,” Shuler said. “I can’t tell you exactly how I think about it. Bittersweet is the best way I can describe it.”

• Aaron Burkhalter can be reached at 360-416-2141 or .