The Associated Press is reporting that former six-term U.S. Congressman Stan Parris has passed away from heart disease at the age of 80 today.
Parris, who represented Virginia’s eighth congressional district, was first elected in 1972, before losing his re-election bid in 1974. He was then subsequently elected again for five terms from 1980-1990.
From Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins:
“I was greatly saddened this morning to learn of the passing of Congressman Stan Parris. The Commonwealth of Virginia lost a great public servant, and I have lost a close personal friend,” he said. “From his gallant service in the Korean War to his decades in public life, Congressman Parris will always be known for the way he always put country and Commonwealth ahead of self.”
“I came to know Stan during his first run for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and I was immediately struck by his sense of humor and optimism, summed up in his first campaign slogan — ‘Parris in the Springtime,'” he said.
“Whether he was sitting on the Board of Supervisors, working in the committee rooms of the House of Delegates, or arguing his case on the floor of the House of Representatives, Stan was a tireless advocate for Northern Virginia,” he said. “Anyone who uses the HOV lanes on I-395 or enjoys watching a sold-out NFL game at home owes Congressman Parris a debt of gratitude.”
“His dedication to public service was matched only by his tenacity. Most freshman members of Congress would walk from public life away after suffering an electoral setback as serious as the one that befell Congressman Parris in 1974. But Stan came back, fought hard, and retook the 8th District, and held it for the GOP for another decade,” he said. “From that first campaign in Fairfax to the impromptu debate with Jim Moran at city hall, I’m proud of every moment I was able to speak for and be associated with Stan Parris.”
“We are all profoundly grateful for the life Stan lead, and for the time we were able to know him. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Martha, and his three children, Michael, Ann, and Susan.”
And Gov. Bob McDonnell added:
“Stan Parris dedicated his life to the service of our Commonwealth and country. As an Air Force pilot during the Korean War he was shot down over North Korea, and awarded the Purple Heart. He was elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Virginia House of Delegates and six terms in the United States Congress. He served as Secretary of the Commonwealth and Director of the Virginia Federal Liaison Office. Through his long and productive life, Stan Parris improved the lives of many….
“Stan Parris was a true public servant. He used his time on this Earth to help others, and to effectively advance the ideas and principles in which he believed. All Virginians should be saddened by today’s news of the passing of Stan Parris.”
Thank you, Congressman Parris for your service to our nation and this commonwealth. And may the Lord welcome you to the glory of His Heavenly kingdom.
