Larry Parker (Louisiana politician)

Larry Parker (April 1, 1922 – September 18, 1996)^[1] was a businessman from Alexandria, Louisiana, who served a single term from 1964 to 1968 in the Louisiana House of Representatives from Rapides Parish. His tenure corresponded with the first administration of Governor John McKeithen.^[2]

Parker owned a coin shop and was president of the Alexandria Association, an organization of merchants. He was also a deputy for the Rapides Parish Sheriff's office and a radio news commentator.^[1][3] Parker and his wife, the former Sylvia Snyder (1936-2011), the daughter of Lewis Andrew Snyder and the former Eva Bland, had four children, Michael "Mike" L. Parker and wife Lesley, Kenneth "Ken" L. Parker and wife Susan, Dianna L. Dauzart & husband Gary, and Cathy L. Smith.^[3]

Parker died at the age of seventy-four at the Alexandria Veterans Affairs Medical Center, located across the Red River in Pineville, Louisiana.^[1] Mrs. Parker died in Rogers, Arkansas, also at the age of seventy-four. Larry and Sylvia Parker are interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Ball north of Pineville in Rapides Parish. Former State Senator B. G. Dyess, a Southern Baptist pastor, officiated at Mrs. Snyder's funeral service on February 14, 2011.^[3]

In 1966, Parker ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Louisiana's 8th congressional district, since disbanded.^[4] He lost to the one-term incumbent, Speedy Long of LaSalle Parish.

In the spring of 1977, Parker ran for mayor of Alexandria in an all-Democratic contest in which Carroll E. Lanier unseated John K. Snyder.^[1]

References