Mildred "Millie" Parsons became the first employee in the FBI's history to complete 60 years of service, and she's never taken a sick day

September 24, 1999
Web posted at: 5:52 p.m. EDT (2152 GMT)

From Terry Frieden at the Justice Department

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Mildred "Millie" on Parsons Friday becomes the first FBI employee in the bureau's 90-year history to complete 60 years of service. She started in 1939, is 86-years-old now and has never taken a sick day.

Parsons has been a fixture at the FBI's Washington field office, where as secretary to the boss at any given time, she has seen 30 different assistant FBI directors or special agents in charge come and go.

Parsons was to be honored by FBI colleagues with a dinner Thursday night and a coffee reception Friday morning.

FBI friends say Parsons leaves her house in Takoma Park, Maryland, at 5 a.m. each day, walks six blocks to the bus, which she takes to the subway, and walks to her downtown office -- always on time.

Her office says she never has had even one hour of sick time.

Parsons has announced no plans to retire.