James M. Parker

James M. Parker, who died in 2019 at age 76, was an accomplished Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) practitioner. He was inducted as a Charter Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel (the “College”) in 2000.

Jim was a third-generation Oklahoma State University (“OSU”) Cowboy, where his grandfather was the dean of the agricultural department. Jim earned his undergraduate degree in accounting there in 1964 and went on to earn his law degree through a combined curriculum with University of Oklahoma School of Law in a six-year program.

After graduation, he took a job with the Internal Revenue Service in Roswell, NM, auditing individual and corporate tax returns. After two years as a revenue agent, he entered Kendall Schlenker’s law firm in Albuquerque, where he eventually became a partner (later Parker, Wellborn & Wiggins). In 1982, he became a partner in Modrall, Sperling, Harris & Sisk, then the largest firm in New Mexico, providing assistance in federal taxation, estate planning, and employee benefits. A large part of his practice was devoted to representing family businesses and professional practice groups.

Jim was known for his work ethic and wry sense of humor. His last major goal was to actively practice law for 50 years. When he met that goal, he reduced his seven-day work week to three days. Jim frequently lamented that it was almost impossible to cram his normal 72-hour work week into 36.

Jim was also named a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. His passion for small businesses was also evidence in his over 30 years of service with the Washington, DC-based Small Business Council of America, where he received the Connie Murdock Award for Excellence.

Active outside of the law, he and his wife Linda co-founded the University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management Parker Center for Family Business. Jim felt that the apex in his career occurred when he was selected as one of the 100 best graduates over 100 years at OSU Spears School of Business.

Lawyers noted that Jim’s remarkable intuition in seeking and finding effective solutions for clients. Jim was remembered by colleagues as an excellent lawyer as well as a great mentor, friend and confidant. He taught them that one learned a lot more by listening than talking. Jim was a highly skilled leader in the employee benefits law bar, especially with respect to family businesses.

Sources include: James M. Parker makes 'Spears School Tributes: 100 For 100' list
https://news.okstate.edu/articles/business/2014/james_parker.html

https://www.nationaljewish.org/about-us/news/press-releases/2018/event-honoring-garzas-and-parkers-raises-money

Photo Source: The Decade Book, American College of Employee Benefits Counsel 2000-2010