John Blair was addressing well-wishers at a retirement reception on Tuesday, Dec. 7, when a question came from the back of the room.
“Can you still do a flip?”
Blair answered without saying a word. He rose from his chair and urged those nearby to move back a bit. He took one step, drove his hands to the floor, swung his feet over and stuck the landing as the crowd applauded.
Applause has been a regular occurrence for Blair, who is retiring after 35 years at the college. His last day is Dec. 17.
A New Jersey native, Blair arrived at Wofford in 1986 to coach the men’s soccer team. He coached for 16 seasons, ushering the program into the Division I era and becoming the leader in career victories with 107.
His best season came in 1994, when the team finished 14-3. Wofford started the season 3-3, then went on an epic 11-game winning streak.
“We had a great team,” Blair says. “We started 10 seniors. The players looked at every game we played like it was a tournament game. They were just a great bunch of guys.”
Blair left the soccer pitch after the 2001 season and stepped into the role of director of conference services, a position he’s held since. He worked behind the scenes to make sure countless events ran smoothly, and he brought the same fire he displayed on the soccer field to that job.
“Coaching is what got me here,” Blair says. “I’m a competitive guy. It’s in my blood. If an event didn’t go right, I took offense to it.”
The highlight came in 2011, when Wofford hosted a Republican Party presidential debate.
“We pulled off that debate, which really was an unbelievable undertaking for the college,” Blair says. “We got a lot of attention for that.”
Roberta Hurley, vice president and dean of students, calls Blair a “coach from head to toe.”
“John enjoys seeing students, faculty and staff succeed,” she says. “He is an institutional treasure who is often underappreciated. We will miss him.”
Blair says his immediate plans involve working on his house and his golf game. He says he’ll treasure his memories of his colleagues and students.
“Wofford College is a great place, and I’m going to miss the people,” he says. “I wouldn’t have stayed at a place for this long if I didn’t believe in everything we do.”
Alexander to retire
Shirley Alexander retires after nearly 28 years of service
Shirley Alexander is retiring from Wofford College after 27.9 years of service. She likes emphasizing that point nine.
Alexander has spent her Wofford career in housekeeping. There were stints in Greene Hall, Sandor Teszler Library, Burwell Dining Hall and Wightman Hall. She’s lost track of how long she’s been responsible for the Mungo Student Center but knows it has been at least 10 years.
“I just like the environment and the students,” Alexander says. “Some talk like they know you and thank you for what you do.”
Dec. 16 is her retirement date.
Her workdays normally start at 5 a.m., an hour before her shift begins, so she can get a head start on the day.
“Shirley is on campus before the sun comes up this time of year and she does a fantastic job of keeping the Mungo Student Center sparkling, safe and enjoyable for Wofford students, staff and our AVI (culinary services) partners,” says Roberta Hurley, vice president and dean of students. “We will miss her.”
One of Alexander’s aunts, Glendora Green, also was a longtime Wofford employee. Alexander occasionally picked up her aunt from work, and her aunt’s experience at the college led her to pursue working at Wofford.
Alexander has witnessed many changes on campus, including a recently renovated Mungo Student Center that’s often considered the living room for students.
One of the highlights of her time at Wofford was interacting with the Carolina Panthers while they held training camp on campus and dined in the student center.
“I got to see a bunch of them and talk to Cam (Newton) a lot,” Alexander says. “I took a bunch of pictures. Most of them are really nice and wouldn’t mind if I asked to take pictures.”
Alexander has left an impression on many, too.
“Our maintenance department is going to miss Shirley dearly,” says Jeff Burney, director of housekeeping and event setups. “It will be hard getting someone to duplicate what she has meant and done for us for so many years. Her dedication and personality toward her job and the people she meets are unmatched.”
Alexander, who is known to share photos and videos of her grandchildren with staff in the Campus Life and Student Development offices, looks forward to spending more time with her family, including her two sons, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
“Shirley is a Wofford treasure,” Hurley says.
By Robert W. Dalton