Home » 2009 » 05 » 28 »

PHOTO GALLERY: Former Republican statesman George Parker dies at 86

Thursday, May 28, 2009 | 9:15 p.m. CDT

The reflection of George Parker, the founder of the modern Republican Party in Boone County, appears on the picture of a young Parker with the F-101 Voodoo. During World War II, he flew a B-26 Marauder bomber. The photograph was taken at his home in Columbia on Dec. 11, 2006. ¦ Missourian file photo

BY Missourian staff

COLUMBIA — George Parker, 86, a former state representative in Boone County and the founder of the Pachyderm Club, died Wednesday in Columbia. When he was elected in 1966, he was the first Republican elected in Boone County since the Civil War and served three terms in the Missouri House of Representatives.

The Pachyderm Club is now a national organization recognized as an auxiliary to the GOP by the Republican National Committee.

The Missouri Republican Party issued a statement calling Parker a "pillar in the Republican Party."

TOP ROW: From left, Anderson "Danny" Peebles, navigator; Flavil Ray Edgin, co-pilot; John Cartmill, bombardier; Don Billings, radio operator/gunner; Robert Mink, engineer/gunner; John Brewer, armorer/gunner
KNEELING: Michael Garvie, crew chief; GEORGE PARKER, pilot; Charles Franzwick, assistant crew chief

George Parker was piloting 42-96188, another B-26B55, when he and his fellow crew members were hit by flak over France. He made an emergency landing at a British advanced landing ground, B7-Martragny, near Bayeaux in Normandy on July 7, 1944. All the crew members were safe after making a belly landing. ¦ Courtesy of Brian Gibbons

"It doesn't matter what your age is; you can help and influence the election," said state Rep. George Parker, R-Columbia, and a then-Republican candidate for state treasurer, to a group of youthful supporters at a Young Missourians for Parker meeting on Sept. 13, 1972. ¦ Missourian file photo

The family of George Parker said this was their favorite photo of him. ¦ Courtesy of Ashley Nichols

George Parker, former chairman of the Boone County Republican Central Committee, wanted to change the way people thought about politics. This photo is dated Oct. 25, 1990. ¦ Missourian file photo

»Contact an editor with corrections or additional information

Comments

Speak up and join the conversation! You can comment below. (Click here to register.) Please be civil and refrain from profanities and name-calling; in other words, don't say anything you wouldn't otherwise say in public. If you see something objectionable, please tell us which comment and why it should be removed. When you post, please use your actual name. Read the full comment policy here.

PHOTO GALLERY: Former Republican statesman George Parker dies at 86

Comments

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to comment.