WARDEN - It appears the third time, or possibly the fourth time, is the charm for Lamb Weston/BSW's Leonard Slater.

The 57-year old warehouseman for the Warden business recently earned his GED diploma 40 years after he quit high school to support his family.

Slater also had the highest average GED score in the state this year.

"It means quite a bit," Slater told the Columbia Basin Herald. "I think I've tried three or four times, but I never quite got there."

He was honored for his achievements Thursday during an employee training session and annual all plant meeting at Warden Elementary School's gym.

Afterward, Slater cut and served cake for his co-workers, just like a real graduation party.

Company officials and representatives from the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Washington were also on hand for the celebration.

OIC offers the High School Equivalency Program in the communities of Warden, Othello, Quincy and Moses Lake, with about 180 people graduating annually, explained state Director Gilbert Alaniz.

There are currently between 20 and 30 people participating in the program in Warden.

He encouraged Slater's co-workers to apply for the program.

Jann Kern-Arreola, of OIC, mentioned the help of Lamb Weston's Pat Wold and Estela Caballero.

"These are your teachers who did such a wonderful job and got Leonard through," Kern-Arreola said.

The company's plant Manager Andy Bateman described Slater to the Columbia Basin Herald as a "friendly guy who is serious about his job and performs his job well."

Bateman called Slater's high score "a great accomplishment."

Slater is originally from Canada and spoke French as his native language. He didn't learn English until he started school.

As a child, he moved often, had eyesight problems and learning disabilities.

His education was put aside at age 17 when his father left the family of nine children.

Slater went to work to help his mother support the family. She was working two jobs herself.

He eventually moved to Bellingham and started working in the seasonal processing business, which included vegetables, fruit, seafood, lumber and potatoes.

Slater moved to Warden to start his employment with Lamb Weston/BSW and worked as laborer, sorter, tote man, forklift driver and in the areas of inventory and maintenance.

For more information about the High School Equivalency Program, call Hector Ledezma at 509-834-8834, or visit 903 W. Third Ave., Moses Lake.