A Gator fairy tale

A Gator fairy tale

UF employees Chris Singletary and Rita Ford recently became engaged.

UF employees Chris Singletary and Rita Ford recently became engaged.

Few fairy tales start with a leaking drain pipe, but in the case of Chris Singletary and Rita Ford’s own personal fairy tale, it did. In 2006, Singletary was working as a project manager for the UF Facilities, Planning and Construction office when a leaking drain pipe brought him to an office in the Medical Sciences Building to inspect the damage. There, he met Rita Ford, the office manager for the College of Medicine Office of Student Affairs and Registration. The pair became friends and eventually fell in love. On Dec. 6, Singletary, now the project manager for the UF Physical Plant at the Health Science Center, surprised his sweetie with an impromptu treasure hunt that led her from her office on campus to Possum Creek Park in Northwest Gainesville. There, Singletary and Ford’s dog, Riley, were waiting. Getting down on one knee, Singletary popped the question. As the picture notes, she said yes. Happily ever after begins in 2014 with a wedding in Spain. Congratulations!