BUSINESS LEADER, COMMUNITY ADVOCATE RONALD PARKER PASSES AWAY

  

A longtime business executive with roots in Brenham has died. 

Ronald C. Parker passed away unexpectedly over the weekend at his home in Plano.

Parker, a 1972 graduate of Brenham High School, was an outstanding alumnus of Brenham ISD, Blinn College and Texas Christian University.  Following an accolade-filled athletic career that included being drafted by the Chicago Bears football team, Parker moved to the business world, where he spent decades in leadership roles at organizations including PepsiCo, the Executive Leadership Council and the National Association of Securities Professionals. 

Parker was very involved with TCU, not only as an assistant athletic director and member of the board of trustees, but also in the university’s fundraising initiatives, helping to raise over $1 billion to support future student success through the Lead On campaign.

Parker was also a board member for Baylor Scott & White Health, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Procter & Gamble, and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.  In addition, he and his wife, Paula, helped establish the Smithsonian African American Museum in Washington, D.C. and were helping to raise funding for the new National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth.

Parker was the recipient of the PepsiCo Global Diversity Award, noted as a Top Diversity Leader by Black Enterprise Magazine, and recognized as “Executive of the Year” by the New York Boys and Girls Club.

Ronald is survived by his wife and their three children.

Funeral arrangements are pending.