[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 26 (Thursday, March 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TO HONOR DELEGATE HARRY J. PARISH FOR 50 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE

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                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2001

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I speak today after reading in a local paper 
that Delegate Harry J. Parrish, of Manassas, Virginia, has recently 
been recognized by the Virginia General Assembly for 50 years of public 
service. I want to bring to my colleagues' attention some highlights of 
this gentleman's exemplary career of service to the people of Manassas, 
the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States of America.
  Delegate Harry Parrish was born on February 19, 1922, on a farm in 
Fairfax County, Virginia. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to 
Manassas where his father bought a coal and ice company and renamed it 
the Manassas Ice and Fuel Company, Inc., which is still in existence 
today. As he was growing up, his father encouraged him to pursue 
flying, an interest that led him to fly for the U.S. Air Force. Mr. 
Parrish graduated from Osbourn High School in 1940 where he was a 
member of Prince William County's first high school football team. He 
then attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute to seek a degree in 
business administration. His courses were accelerated at the onset of 
the American involvement in World War 11, and in 1942, Mr. Parrish 
enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, which later became the U.S. Air 
Force.
  Mr. Parrish had a remarkable and distinguished military career. He 
was one of only 17 Americans hand selected to attend the Royal Air 
Force Flight School, No. 5 where he graduated as a pilot, navigator, 
bombardier, radio operator and armaments man. Through his extensive 
training, Mr. Parrish became one of the legendary pilots who served in 
the China-Burma-India Theater where he ``flew the hump'' and delivered 
vital war supplies to our troops. Of all his accomplishments, his 
experiences in World War 11 are the moments in his life of which he is 
the most proud.
  While on active duty, Mr. Parrish was a flight commander, squadron 
commander, wing operations officer and base operations officer. 
Following the war, Mr. Parrish went into the Air Force Reserves and 
served active tours of duty in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Mr. Parrish 
retired from the Air Force in 1971 with the rank of full colonel and 
with multiple awards and decorations including the Air Medal with Two 
Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
  After the war, Mr. Parrish returned home to work for his father in 
his ice and fuel business. Mr. Parrish again followed in his father's 
footsteps when he began serving the Town of Manassas in 1951 as town 
councilman. He served as councilman until being elected mayor of 
Manassas in 1963. Mr. Parrish served as mayor for 18 years during which 
time the town became a city. His service as mayor had such a positive 
impact on Manassas that in 1973 he was named the ``Town of Manassas Man 
of the Century.'' He left his position as mayor and ran successfully 
for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1981, a post which he 
holds to this day.
  Mr. Parrish is currently the co-chairman of the House Finance 
Committee and a member of the House Committees on Conservation and 
Natural Resources, Commerce and Labor, Corporations, Insurance and 
Banking, Rules and Joint Rules.
  Mr. Parrish also serves on numerous state and local legislative and 
civic boards including the joint Legislative Audit and Review 
Commission, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission, and Virginia 
Veterans Cemetery Board. He is now the chairman of the board of the 
company his father began in 1922, the Manassas Ice and Fuel Company, 
Inc., and his son, Hal, is the president. He has served as president of 
the Virginia Municipal League and on the boards of United Virginia Bank 
and Crestar Bank. Mr. Parrish is one of the founders of the Prince 
William Hospital where he has served on the board of directors.
  Mr. Parrish has been involved in far too many community clubs and 
groups to mention all of them at this time. Mr. Parrish is a member of 
Grace United Methodist Church in Manassas, the Kiwanis Club of 
Manassas, the American Red Cross, the Society for Preservation of Black 
Heritage, and Boy Scouts of America. He has also been a member of the 
Manassas Volunteer Fire Company since 1948.
  In addition to the honors and credit to his name that I have already 
mentioned, he has also received the Distinguished Service Award from 
the Virginia Oil Men's Association and in 1998 was recognized by his 
peers by being named Virginia Oil Man of the Year. Also, in 1995 he 
served, along with his wife Mattie, as the grand marshal of the 
Manassas Christmas Parade.
  He met Mattie during his years at Osbourn High School in Manassas 
where they have been sweethearts since eighth grade. Mattie has been an 
incredible source of support and devotion ever since. They have two 
children and three grandchildren.
  The most amazing thing about Mr. Parrish is that despite his long and 
distinguished career, he remains without a doubt one of the most humble 
public servants that can be found anywhere. Throughout his 50 years of 
public service and during his time in the military, he has shown 
extraordinary and tireless dedication to his country, state, city, 
church and family.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleagues join me in commending Delegate 
Harry Parrish for achieving 50 years of remarkable public service.

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