NOVA Dedicates New Tech Hall

It may have been a cloudy day on Tuesday but the mood at the dedication ceremony for the newly-built Harry Parrish Hall on the Manassas campus of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) was anything but.

That's because dignitaries and family members of the late Harry J. Parrish were given the opportunity to speak to the character of the former Virginia House of Delegates member and Manassas City Council Member and Mayor, bringing smiles and laughter to the crowd.

Those in attendance included senators Charles J. (Chuck) Colgan, D-Manassas, and Richard H. (Dick) Black, R-Prince William County, as well Virginia Delegates Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William County and Jackson H. Miller, R-Manassas.  "If Harry Parrish isn't in heaven, the rest of us are in a lot of trouble," said Sen. Colgan. "He was one of the most decent people I have ever met."

Harry J.  Parrish Hall now sits next to Colgan Hall on the local campus. The two General Assembly members were instrumental in getting the building built.

Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner was leaving the position and wanted to do something special for the area of Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park because of the two legislatures' ability to work together, despite being from opposite sides of the aisle, Colgan told the crowd. The special gift was $1 million dollars in that year's budget to be spent on projects in the area.  The duo chose to spend most of the money to construct the new building on the local community college's campus, which Parrish was instrumental in bringing to the area.

Parrish was noted at the ceremony for recognizing the importance of higher education in the community, during the 18 years he served as mayor of Manassas and 13 years with the General Assembly.

"This building is a special place already," said son of Harry J. Parrish, Manassas Mayor Harry J. (Hal) Parrish ll, who was in attendance with other Parrish family members including mother, Mattie Parrish and her great-grandsons. "It [the building] is a little bit about the past and the recognition of dad and his service, but it's also very much about the future for the many people— young and old— who will come here and learn and continue to serve in our community."

Harry J. Parrish Hall is a 600,000 sq. ft., three-story building that houses labs and classrooms designated for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs; something Parrish, who studied at Virginia Tech and had a technical background, would have been proud of, according to Sen. Richard H. Black, who spoke at the dedication ceremony.

"I think Harry would've been very, very pleased with what was being done with this center," Black said.