Dorothy W. Brunson said her claim to fame was that she outlasted six Executive Secretary/Commissioners in her 48 years with the Florida High School Activities Association.

Whether as secretary or administrative assistant/office manager, Mrs. Brunson had been the right-hand "man" for the FHSAA's chief executive officer, whether it was Lafayette Golden, Floyd E. Lay, Fred E. Rozelle, Ronald N. Davis, Bob Hughes or Dr. John Stewart.

Mrs. Brunson was born just three blocks from where the FHSAA Office used to stand in downtown Gainesville. She spent her entire life in Gainesville and was a graduate of Gainesville High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and Junior Classical League.

Mrs. Brunson started doing odds-and-ends work for the FHSAA before she graduated from high school. Following her graduation, she was hired as a secretary on Aug. 16, 1943, working mornings for Gainesville High School principal F.W. Buchholz and afternoons for Executive Secretary Lafayette Golden at the FHSAA.

In 1955, her title was changed to administrative assistant/office manager and her duties expanded to include supervision of office workers, responsibility for publications, tax reports and, she said, "whatever else comes along."

Mrs. Brunson was Sunday School director at Carol Estates Baptist Church in Gainesville and was a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was married to the late Buford Brunson, together they had two daughters, three granddaughters and two great-grandsons. Mrs. Brunson passed away in September of 2016.