ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 10, 1996 TAG: 9608120127
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DON PERRY, a Hokies fixture, will retire from his job as assistant athletic director ``by mutual agreement'' effective Sept.13.
Virginia Tech's athletic department continues to undergo a changing of the guard.
In the second major administrative move of the summer, athletic director Dave Braine confirmed Friday that assistant AD Don Perry has elected to take early retirement.
Perry, in his 30th year on the Tech staff and his 10th year as an assistant AD, will retire from his post, effective Sept.13.
Perry is the second assistant AD to leave the school within a span of 21/2 months. After nine years on the job, Steve Horton resigned from his post in late May to enter private business.
Perry, 56, whose primary responsibilities were facilities and game operations, has the longest tenure of any current Hokies athletic administrator. The Burlington, N.C., native graduated from Tech in 1962 and joined the athletic department in 1966. He served as business manager until being promoted to assistant AD by Bill Dooley in 1986.
Perry said he started considering taking early retirement after Braine informed him in July 1995 that some personnel changes were in store for the athletic department.
``Dave indicated to me a year ago that he wanted to make some changes, bring in some new people,'' Perry said. ``I've been here a long time and he wanted to bring in somebody else.
``So it's time to go. I can't deny [Braine] that. I may have preferred to go some other way, but I have a very viable option waiting for me, so I'll be fine. I'm not unhappy. I've been looking at this for two years.''
Braine preferred to borrow Perry's phrase, ``by mutual agreement,'' when asked if Perry was, in essence, being forced out of his position.
``Let's just say there comes a time for everyone when you decide you're going to do something else for the rest of your life,'' said Braine, who added that Perry's position will be filled by September.
Horton tendered his resignation in late May, saying he ``didn't see any room for advancement'' in Tech's athletic administration. He was replaced by Derek Carter, the former director of student life.
Braine conceded the exit of two of his assistants in such a short span has created ``some uneasiness'' at Tech's Jamerson Athletic Center.
``I think that's only natural,'' Braine said. ``But, hey, it's not easy for me, either.
``Both Steve Horton and Don Perry made contributions that helped us get where we are today. But we can't afford to stand still. The reason we are where we are today is because we have good people ... people who are progressive, innovative and are moving forward.''
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