WILSON, N.C. – Beautiful weather coupled with time-honored traditions appropriately ushered in Barton College’s annual May 1 Founder’s Day celebration this year. The campus was brimming with guests who joined the campus community to honor the William W. Parish family from Wendell.
The Parish family includes Aileen and Bill Parish of Wendell; Patricia Parish of Raleigh (known as Tricia) and her children: Casey and Alex Ward; and Phyllis Parish Howard of Raleigh, her husband Seab, and their daughter Gabrielle.
Each year at Founder’s Day, Barton College honors a family who has made significant contributions to the life of the institution. Longtime supporters of Barton College and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Parish family has provided alumni and trustee leadership for the College in addition to supporting its educational mission and providing financial support.
Among the day’s activities was the dedication of the Phyllis Parish Howard Television Control Room in the Department of Communications and Performing Arts, honoring trustee Phyllis Parish Howard. This addition to the television studio on campus was made possible by a gift from the WRAL/Capitol Broadcasting Company Fund. Presented by Jim Goodmon, president and CEO of Capitol Broadcasting Company, the gift was made in honor of Parish Howard’s significant contributions as Director of Local Production for WRAL-TV and Capitol Broadcasting Company.
Following the dedication ceremony, the campus community and guests enjoyed a buffet luncheon in Hardy Alumni Hall with a brief program focusing on the contributions and commitment to the College made by the Parish family for the past 60-plus years. The program included two longtime friends, the Reverend Gilbert Davis of Forth Worth, Texas, and Juanita Andrews of Rocky Mount, who regaled the audience with delightful stories of shared experiences with alumni Aileen and Bill Parish.
Dr. Norval C. Kneten, president of Barton College, spoke of the tremendous commitment of time, energy, and financial resources that this couple and their two daughters (also Barton alumnae), have made over the years in support of their beloved alma mater.
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Questions? Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252.399.6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.