OBU To Celebrate Parrish’s Contributions At Oct. 26 Dinner

John Parrish knows a lot about OBU's history. He's lived through the last 38 years of that history on Bison Hill.

At the end of November, Parrish, OBU's executive vice president, will retire from a career that has included at least half a dozen job titles at the University, and a wide range of experiences.

Parrish's many roles and his relationships with students, alumni, faculty, administrators, donors and Oklahoma Baptists will be celebrated at a retirement dinner on Saturday, Oct. 26, in OBU's Geiger Center. The event will begin with a 5:30 p.m. reception, followed by a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 per person, and can be ordered by calling the OBU Alumni Office at 405-878-2706. To download a PDF copy of the dinner invitation, please click here.

The dinner will include remarks from Parrish's friends and colleagues from several years. Roasters include Dr. Bob R. Agee, former OBU president; Ronald L. Clem, '67; Kay Vandevier Henry, '69; John Hudson, '70; Dr. William E. Neptune, '50; Kathryn A. Palen, '78; Dr. David L. Sallee, '73; Dr. William G. Tanner; Dr. C. Pat Taylor; and J. Thomas Terry.

The dinner also will feature a visual presentation of Parrish's years at the University.

Hired by Dr. Neptune in 1964 as director of publications and publicity and instructor of journalism, Parrish was promoted to director of public relations two years later. He became director of alumni and annual giving in 1979, and was promoted to associate vice president for development in 1983. He was appointed to the vice president for institutional advancement post in 1986.

In 1991, he was named senior vice president for business and external affairs and then was promoted to executive vice president in 1994. He has been serving as the University's chief financial officer since that time.