Meteorologist Bill Parker of the National Weather Service in Shreveport will speak at the Minden Lions Club Thursday, June 4, about being weather aware.
Bill is a native of New Orleans where he attended John F. Kennedy High School for Math, Science, and Engineering. He furthered his education at Jackson State University located in Jackson, Mississippi, where he received his bachelor of science degree in meteorology in 1994. Bill was introduced to operational weather as a student meteorologist in 1993 at the National Weather Service in New Orleans. After graduating from Jackson State University, he moved to Shreveport to begin his career as a meteorologist intern. His career has remained in Shreveport for 19 years, as he became a journeyman forecaster in 1998, a lead forecaster in 2008, and promoted to the warning coordination meteorologist in 2012. Nationally, out of 122 warning coordination meteorologist positions, he is currently the only African American serving in this capacity.
In the local Shreveport/Bossier community, he has volunteered and served in various capacities with many civic organizations, including the Shreveport-Bossier Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast Executive Committee, La Cima Bilingual Leadership Academy, Bossier Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, Volunteers for Youth Justice, and as a coach with Bossier Parks and Recreation. Outside of the National Weather Service, he serves as an associate minister at Elizabeth Baptist Church in Benton. Bill began his ministry at Elizabeth Baptist Church in May of 1997.
Bill truly embraces and cultivates diversity by providing opportunities, education and mentoring to others. He has been very instrumental in recruiting and employing three African American meteorologists with various National Weather Service offices across the U. S. He has recruited to their local forecast office and mentored several students of various under-represented minorities for summer intern positions. He also served as a mentor to a young Airline High School student for his senior project. Bill is very passionate about serving the community and assisting our future leaders.
Although he is very active in the community, Bill makes time to be a committed, faithful, and involved husband and father. Bill married Melanie Quincy Parker, also of New Orleans, in May of 1996. They are both dedicated members of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Benton. Bill and Melanie have three sons: Trey, Daniel, and Nathaniel (Nate) and one daughter, Merani.
The Minden Lions Club meets at noon every Thursday in the American Legion Hall on Pine Street. Lunch is served around 11:45. Non-members may attend and eat at a charge of $8.