Parish, Charles E. 1908-1975

PARISH, PETERSON, LANNOM, GREER, ARNOLD

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/15/2011 at 14:16:45

Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Nov. 3, 1975

CHARLES PARISH DIES AT 67

Charles E. Parish, 67, of Tullahoma, Tenn., former Grinnell businessman and a Tennessee industrial and civic leader, died Oct. 22 in Tullahoma.

Death was attributed to heart failure.

Funeral services were held Friday, Oct. 24, in Tullahoma, with burial at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.

The son of Dr. O.F. and Laura Peterson Parish, he was born in Grinnell. He was graduated from Grinnell College where he was active in athletics, having been named to the New York Sun's second All-American team.

In 1930, Mr. Parish began work for Lannom Manufacturing Co. here, which was headed by the late George Sharp Lannom Jr. He was a salesman for Lannom's Pacific Coast territory and became the firm's advertising manager in 1937.

Mr. Parish moved to Tullahoma in 1942 after being named general manager and treasurer of Lannom's manufacturing operations there. After Lannom's death in 1953, he was named president of the company, which has become one of the world's leading manufacturers of baseballs, softballs and bats.

He was also active in Boy Scout organization, having served as president of the Middle Tennessee Boy Scout Council. Last year, the council named a 500-acre wilderness area for him. A former Tullahoma alderman, he was also a financial supporter of Harton Hospital in Tullahoma. He was a former president of the Tullahoma Rotary Club and was named "citizen of the year" in 1955 by the Tullahoma Jaycees.

Survivors include his wife, Martha Lannom Parish; a son, John L. Parish Sr., executive vice president of Lannom; a daughter, Mrs. Marty Parish Greer of Franklin, Tenn.; a brother, Dr. John R. Parish of Grinnell; a sister, Mrs. Margaret Arnold, also of Grinnell; and six grandchildren.

Memorials in Mr. Parish's name have been established with the Middle Tennessee Boy Scout Council, Harton Hospital, and Harpeth Academy in Franklin, Tenn.