The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, September 30, 1994             TAG: 9409300526
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                     LENGTH: Short :   41 lines

PARRISH WILL ASSUME DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOB THREE MONTHS EARLY

District Attorney-elect Frank Parrish will take office three months early when H.P. Williams Jr. steps down to enter private practice Monday.

A spokesman in Gov. James B. Hunt Jr.'s office confirmed Thursday what most people had expected by announcing Parrish's appointment to serve out the end of Williams' term.

Parrish, a former assistant district attorney, defeated Williams in the May 3 Democratic primary for the office. No one else is seeking the job in the general election.

A swearing-in ceremony for Parrish has been scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday in Courtroom A of the Pasquotank County Courthouse, said Democratic Party Chairwoman Cathy Meggs. Superior Court Judge Richard Parker said he will administer the oath.

``I'm honored to be asked to swear him in,'' Parker said Thursday. ``I've always found him to be well-prepared and capable, and I think he'll make a good district attorney.''

Meggs said a reception at the K.E. White Graduate Center will follow the swearing-in.

Parrish, who was in Baltimore speaking at a district attorneys conference, could not be reached Thursday. He had said earlier that he would welcome the opportunity to begin the job in October and had written to Hunt requesting the appointment.

Williams, who will become an associate in the Elizabeth City law firm of Twiford, Morrison, O'Neal and Vincent, tendered his resignation late last month. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Frank Parrish

Swearing-in set for Monday

by CNB