stored procedures in postgresql user plpgsql

I know that there are not stored procedures like that in oracle. I know that
you have to create functions.

I have tried to create a simple function to select data from a table. Could
you all please correct me

Thanks

CREATE FUNCTION retrive_atype(varchar) RETURNS varchar AS '

BEGIN

RETURN select username from masteraccount where atype=$1;

END;

' LANGUAGE 'plpgsql';

To call the function I used

Select retrive_atype();

Please help

Robert Stewart

Network Eng

Commonwealth Office of Technology

Finance and Administration Cabinet

101 Cold Harbor

Work # 502 564 9696

Cell # 502 330 5991

Email RobertD(dot)Stewart(at)ky(dot)gov <mailto:RobertD(dot)Stewart(at)ky(dot)gov>