Dec. 11, 2000

Winston-Salem, N.C. - At the end of the calendar year, a very special member of the Wake Forest athletic department will be turning in her keys to begin a well-deserved retirement. Mary Parsons, an administrative assistant to the head football coach, has worked in that position for 33 years.

Parsons arrived on campus in 1967 during the Brian Piccolo era under then-head coach Bill Tate. Since then, she has had the opportunity to work with seven different Demon Deacon coaches during her tenure. Parsons is frequently spotted with a smile on her face and cites her coworkers as one of the reasons she has spent over three decades in Winston-Salem.

"I've really enjoyed the interaction with the players - that will probably be the thing I miss most about working here," Parsons said. "I have always enjoyed coming to work and I truly like being around people."

Parsons, who has worked under Tate, Cal Stoll, Tom Harper, Chuck Mills, John Mackovic, Al Groh, Bill Dooley and Jim Caldwell, plans to travel and occupy herself with service to her church during her retirement. Her retirement date is set for January 2, 2001.