H. Terry Parker
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H. Terry Parker (1890-1970) was a businessman and philanthropist from Chatham County, Georgia who is remembered for his generous donations to innumerable causes, especially in Jacksonville, Florida and Ludowici, Georgia.
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[edit] Family
Terry Parker was one of eight children of Annie Terry and Joseph Hampton Parker, who were close relatives of John A. Treutlen, the first (post British) governor of Georgia. His parents were distinguished leaders in their Georgia community near Savannah, in religion, education, and politics. They were prosperous and highly respected for their devotion to building Christian character and encouraging education. They were known for their profound concern for the welfare of their fellow citizens. Mr. Parker's father served for eight years in the Georgia State Senate, twelve years in the Georgia General Assembly, seventeen years on the Chatham County Board of Education, and fourteen years as a moderator of New Sunbury (Baptist) Association, which included the Savannah district. Several of his brothers became outstanding lawyers and circuit judges in Georgia. Terry Parker was president and valedictorian of his graduating class at Union Baptist Institute (now Brewton-Parker College) in Mount Vernon, Georgia, in 1911.[1]
[edit] Vocation
That same year, Parker came to Florida to work as assistant cashier in the Bank of Hastings, and three years later acquired a temporary job as bookkeeper for the A.B. Farquhar Company, an agricultural machinery manufacturing company. The company shipped equipment worldwide, and Parker worked with transportation for shipments to South America. Thirty years later, Terry Parker was a vice-president and part owner of the Farquhar Company when it was offered for sale in 1944. In 1915, Parker helped start the Gulf Life Insurance Company, and served on the Board of Directors longer than any other member. He served as trustee on the boards of both the Baptist Memorial Hospital and the Southern Baptist Hospital Association. Mr. Parker, in a life long pursuit to his Christian cause, served on every committee as an extremely dedicated individual.[2]
[edit] Philanthropy
H. Terry Parker exemplified the pure definition of a philanthropist. Among his many contributions, was the Jones Creek Baptist Church. He was responsible for assisting in the building and donation of the modern brick air-conditioned construction at Ludowici, Georgia, in honor of his parents. This donation amounted to a total of $100,000. Prior to that, Parker donated a four apartment building to the Baptist Bible Institute at Graceville, Florida, of which he served as member of the board.
The Baptist Home for Children was yet another facility dedicated to Mr. Parker's passion for the less fortunate. He began this endeavor by introducing to the Board of Trustees, a site of 58 acres on Bartram Road. He generously supplied his time and money to whatever need arose in the development of the five dormitories, superintendent's home, swimming pool, auditorium, and other buildings.
In 1955, Terry Parker and his family deeded thirty acres of property in Arlington for the erection of a public school in the Duval County area. The Arlington Parent-Teachers Association nominated Parker to be the school's namesake and it was approved by the school board. In 1958, Parker made a gift of one half the cost of seating and lighting installations at Parker Athletic Field. Mr. Parker's wife was also generous. When Mrs. Parker heard the band playing at a football game, she was impressed with their music, but not their appearance. She donated sixty red and black wool uniforms to the Terry Parker Band and commented, "Now they look as good as they sound." That was the beginning of the successful band program at Parker..[3]
