Carl Parker | |
Office: | Member of the Texas House of Representatives |
Term Start: | November 23, 1962 |
Term End: | January 11, 1977 |
Office2: | Member of the Texas State Senate |
Successor2: | Michael Galloway |
Term Start2: | January 11, 1977 |
Term End2: | January 10, 1995 |
Birth Date: | 6 August 1934 |
Birth Place: | Port Arthur, Texas, U.S. |
Death Place: | Port Arthur, Texas, U.S. |
Party: | Democratic |
Alma Mater: | University of Texas, Austin (BA, LLB) |
Carl A. Parker (August 6, 1934 – March 22, 2024) was an American politician. He served as a Democratic member in the Texas House of Representatives from 1962 to 1977 and in the State Senate from 1977 to 1995.[1] [2] [3] His tenure of service included time as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House and President Pro Tempore of the State Senate.
Senator Parker authored or co-sponsored more than 400 bills, which were enacted into state law. These measures include the establishment of Lamar University, Port Arthur; the Consumer Protection Act; Texas' First Industrial Safety Bill; the Education Reform Bill of 1984; the creation of the Texas Housing Agency; the establishment of the Port of Port Arthur; the Insurance Reform Bill of 1991 and the School Finance Reform Bill.[4]
In 1979, Parker was a member of the Killer Bees,[5] the group of twelve quorum-busting Democratic senators that hid out in an Austin garage apartment for 4½ days.
Parker died in Port Arthur, Texas, on March 22, 2024, at the age of 89.[6]