NSU alumnus selected to serve on RUSO Board of Regents

(Tahlequah, Okla.)-- For Gary Parker, public service has always been a major component in his life. For this very reason, when he was suggested as an appointee to the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Board of Regents, Parker knew that it was an opportunity he needed to seize.

Parker, who graduated from Northeastern State University in 1968 with a business degree focused on accounting and economics, knew early on that he wanted to find himself in the business world.

Immediately after graduation, the Muskogee native began his accounting career with Moffitt Parker & Company, originally Moffitt & Company. By 1975, he had passed the CPA to become a certified public accountant and had also been named a partner in the firm.

Before I enrolled in college, I had a reasonably good idea of what I wanted to do. In my first semester, I enrolled in as many accounting and businesses classes as I could, Parker said.

Although he has remained with the same firm for the last 47 years, his roles in other organizations have been diverse. He has served as director, vice president, chairman of the Ethics Committee and chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants and also has served on both the Ethics Committee and Regional Legislative Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Outside of the accounting world, Parker has served the Muskogee community in numerous capacities.

He was the director of the Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Capital Improvements Steering Committee, trustee of the First Baptist Church, member of the Oklahoma Superconducting Super Collider Development Authority and Judicial Retention Committee of the State of Oklahoma, and was one of the founding board members of Leadership Oklahoma. He also served 14 years on the Muskogee Regional Medical Center Authority Board of Trustees, which included five years as a chairman.

Currently, Parker serves as a director or trustee for Oneok Inc, Firstar Financial Corp and Firstar National Bank, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the NSU Foundation.

In 1990, at the invitation of then-President Roger Webb, Parker joined the NSU Foundation Board, and through the appointment has had many great experiences both professionally and personally.

By serving on this board, I was reacquainted with friends from college and other graduates from years before and after. Ive seen many great things happen at this university, and being involved with other graduates is reinvigorating. You can see firsthand the good things going on at NSU, Parker said.

Parker sees his recent appointment as an opportunity to use his skills and knowledge to have a positive effect on the future of NSU as well as higher education in the state of Oklahoma.

My current goals is to get acquainted with the other members of the RUSO Board and their staffs and to gain a complete understanding of my responsibilities as a Regent, Parker said. At my first meeting, I was very impressed with the knowledge and professionalism of everyone involved and look forward to the privilege and opportunity to work with everyone involved with the Regional University System.

Parker has been married to Carol Rader Parker, 68, for 47 years, and together they have two children and five grandchildren.

Published: 2015-10-06 16:27:47.067000