[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 55 (Monday, March 27, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF CHARLES VERNON PARKER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PAUL A. GOSAR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 27, 2023

  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Charles 
Vernon Parker of Austin, Texas. Charlie, to his friends and family. 
Over the last three decades, Charlie Parker has been a leader in the 
business community, in construction, real estate, and many other areas. 
Charlie's companies have completed massive projects across the United 
States, providing jobs and opportunities to dozens of Americans.
  Beyond Charlie's vast accomplishments in the business world, he has 
been one of our Nation's greatest advocates and leaders in drug and 
alcohol addiction recovery. As a person in long-term recovery, Charlie 
has been clean and sober since 1984, and in the three decades since, he 
has traveled the world with his wife and best friend Katie, as one of 
the most sought-after addiction recovery motivational speakers. Despite 
hundreds of thousands of CDs of his motivational talks being sold 
across the world, Charlie never accepted any fees or gratuities, seeing 
helping people achieve sobriety as God's calling for his life. To date, 
thousands of men across the world attribute their freedom from 
addiction to Charlie Parker.
  Charlie Parker served on the board of directors of Austin Recovery 
and was a large benefactor of dozens of charitable organizations and 
was an active member of his Christian church.
  Recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, Mr. Parker is spending 
his final chapter still actively working with the men he mentors and 
being a force for God, and a force for good every day in our Nation, as 
well as spending time with his loved ones, his daughters Sadie and 
Grace, his grandchildren, and his loving wife, Katie.
  Mr. Speaker, I am thankful to commemorate the life of Charles Vernon 
Parker.

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