Karen Edmiston Simmons

I graduated from NCSU in 1979 with a degree in English. While at State I played clarinet in the marching band, appearing in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston, 2 Peach Bowls in Atlanta and the Tangerine Bowl in Florida. I have worked in advertising, as a newspaper reporter and editor for both weekly and daily newspapers in Cary, Scotland Neck and Rocky Mount, and was editor of the East Carolina University alumni newspaper for 6 years. I got married at age 30, was a stay-at-home mom for 7 years, a teacher assistant at my kids' elementary school for 8 years, drove a school bus for 2 years, and came back to ECU in April 2008 in marketing. I still love keeping up with the Wolfpack, especially football, am a charter member of the Tar River Community Band in Greenville, and enjoy watching my kids play sports. I also recently joined the Crimson Dolls chapter of the Red Hat Society thanks to member Libby Lewis Compton.

I remember playing Edith Bunker, wife of Mike Paul's Archie Bunker, in a skit. Marching in parades and competitions in our uniform - gold windbreakers and black pants. Virgil Bennetsen jumping out of the second story window during class. Gathering around the flag pole during lunch.

One of the funniest things I remember is the sight of Marie McGee leaning into the trunk of her car on the ECU campus in Greenville, girdle and hose exposed for all the college students walking by, and she never stopped talking. We were at ECU to compete in the regional typing contest. Then on the way home she said she was hot and proceeded to pull her wig off!