Varsity Club Hall of Fame
Edward S. "Putty" Parsons, who has since passed away, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his numerous contributions to Northeastern athletics.
As a member of the induction class of 1974, Parsons was one of the original six inductees into the Northeastern Hall of Fame.
Parsons is one of the most important and influential people ever associated with Northeastern athletics. During the 28 years he served as athletic director, the sports of football and hockey were established while the existing sports of track, basketball and baseball became in integral part of the New England sports scene. It was also under Parsons' regime that Northeastern teams became known as the "Huskies" when he brought King Husky I down from Wonolacet, N.H., as the first in a long line of mascot monarchs.
"Putty" first became associated with Northeastern in 1918 as a freshman. He graduated in 1922 after distinguishing himself as a fine student athlete and an adept sprinter on the track team. He graduated immediately to the University faculty where he taught math in the morning and coached track in the afternoon. In 1925 he became athletic director and served in that capacity until 1953 when he moved on as Business Manager of the University.
Always prominent in collegiate athletics, Parsons, during his career, held 37 different titles in various sports organizations. He helped organize the Eastern College Athletic Conference and served on the Eligibility Committee. He was named president of the College Track Coaches of America, vice president of the IC4A, chairman of the Olympic Marathon Committee for three Olympics, and helped manage the U.S. Olympic team in London in 1948.
In ceremonies held on May 12, 1969 Northeastern's outdoor athletic facility, which was previously known to generations of NU students as Kent St. Field and Northeastern University Field, was officially named Edward Snow Parsons Field.
