In Memory of Dr. Anthony Owens Parker

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an awesome visionary, college administrator, educational expert, consensus building community leader and friend of long standing--Dr. Anthony Owens Parker. Sadly, Dr. Parker transitioned on June 6, 2022. His homegoing service was held at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia on June 10, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. The amazing story of Dr. Anthony Parker began with his birth on January 12, 1953, in Orangeburg, S.C. to the union of the late Mr. Lee and Mrs. Henretta Parker. He was reared in St. Matthews, South Carolina where he spent his formative years. He attended John Ford High School, but ultimately graduated from St. Matthews High School in 1971.

His higher education journey took him to his beloved South Carolina State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. Always seeking to improve himself through education, he went on to earn a Specialist in Education Degree from Augusta State University and his PH.D from the University of South Carolina. In addition, he is also a graduate of the Institute of Educational Management at the Harvard University Graduate School. His professional journey of excellence began as a marketing instructor at Augusta Technical College before becoming the Vice President of Student Services at both Southeastern Technical College and Aiken Technical College. These positions were the foundation for his next post which would change the course of technical education in Southwest Georgia when he was named as the fifth president of Albany Technical College in 1995.

At the time of his passing, he was the longest serving President in the Technical College System of Georgia with 27 years. During his presidency, he raised the bar of excellence for himself, Albany Technical College, and Southwest Georgia. Dr. Parker's vision was keenly focused on establishing the college as a workforce development institution that placed graduates in sustainable employment opportunities that would improve the quality of their lives and by extension the Southwest Georgia Region. He was truly community focused and knew the college could not reach its full potential unless it had the support of the community. He developed partnerships with community organizations, industry and other institutions of higher learning in the State which enhance the impact of Albany Technical College in fulfilling its mission. Because of his visionary leadership, Albany Technical College is ranked among the top technical colleges in Georgia and in the Nation.

Anthony Parker was a man of faith. Throughout his life he demonstrated Christian principles and during his later years worshiped faithfully at Bethel AME Church in Albany, Georgia. Moreover, he achieved many successes during his life and career, but none of this would have been possible without the grace of God; his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 49 years, Sandra Pinkney Parker; his children, Dr. Kimberly A. Parker, Commander Andrea Parker Smith and Richard Anthony Parker; along with his granddaughter, Parker Elizabeth Smith.

On a personal note, Dr. Parker was my friend and my brother in the bond of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. I was always impressed by his calm demeanor and his knack for dealing with people in a respectful way even under the most difficult circumstances. He was humble and always treated people the way they deserved to be treated. Dr. George Washington Carver was often quoted as saying: ``How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young; compassionate with the aged; sympathetic with the striving; and tolerant of the weak and the strong because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' Dr. Anthony O. Parker was such a man. He rose from humble beginnings and achieved the pinnacle of success because he accepted and fulfilled God's purpose for his life. Albany Technical College, Southwest Georgia, our Nation, and the world are better because Dr. Anthony Owens Parker passed this way.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in paying tribute to Dr. Anthony O. Parker and in extending our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult period of bereavement. Moreover, we pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

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