Parks director Kisiah announces retirement

After more than 25 years of service, Chapel Hill will soon say farewell to its longtime parks and recreation director, Ray “Butch” Kisiah.

Kisiah, who was appointed director in 2007, will leave behind an accomplished Department of Parks and Recreation career dating back to 1977. He announced his retirement Oct. 18.

He and his wife plan to move to Hilton Head, S.C.

“It’s just my wife and I,” he said. “We’ve wanted to live on the coast forever, so we’re moving to Hilton Head. She has always said someday we’ll live there.”

Kisiah said they have saved and prepared for the move for a long time.

“Now, all our ducks are in a row. My wife starts her new job down there, and I’ll be the trailing spouse,” he said. “This is the right time.”

Kisiah began working in parks and recreation in 1976 following in his father’s footsteps, who retired after 45 years of service.

“I decided way back then that I’d continue the work. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said.

Kisiah’s longtime colleague and personal friend Roger Stancil, Chapel Hill town manager, said in an email that Kisiah left a solid foundation for the future of the department.

“He leaves a legacy of developing his staff to carry on, planning for the future of our facilities with the (parks and greenways) master plans council recently adopted and looking to the future of our youth with his work on the youth services initiative underway,” Stancil said.

Kisiah said he felt like he found a calling in parks and recreation.

“I get to help other people and really get an opportunity to impact the lives of young people,” he said. “We feel we’re kind of the group that makes the community successful. Learning social interaction in the end makes everyone strong.”

Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt said Kisiah helped set the tone for how government should work in the town — as well as keep the parks and recreation department efficient and strong over the years.

“We’re going to miss him a lot,” he said. “He has a real ability to work and perform very well under pressure, always thinking two steps ahead.”

Kisiah said the biggest challenge in the coming years will be implementing plans outlined in Chapel Hill 2020, but keeping an open mind will be key to the department’s success.

He said there are many intelligent people in Chapel Hill — and all a leader needs to do is listen to them.

“Being able to come in and listen is my advice — Chapel Hill is a different type of town,” Kisiah said. “My secret to success has been that, as director, taking the attitude that I am the dumbest one in town.”

On a bad day, Kisiah said all he would have to do was go to the park and see people enjoy themselves.

“When you can just take in the public and how they use the park, it’s great. That’s all it takes for me,” he said. “All of my problems go away when I get to see that. Smiling people. Families playing with their kids. That’s why I’m here.”

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