‘Godfather of Aviation Branch’ remembered

A man some called the Godfather of the Army Aviation Branch passed away Thursday, March 26.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Ellis D. “Don” Parker, commanding general of the United States Army Aviation Center and Fort Rucker from 1984 until 1989, died at his home in Enterprise.

Born Nov. 1, 1932, in Adams, Tenn., Parker was commissioned as an Army second lieutenant in the Army in 1957 as a distinguished honor graduate from the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School. He became an Army aviator early in his career and ultimately commanded aviation units at every level from platoon to brigade.

Parker was promoted to brigadier general and brought his aviation expertise to bear, first as the Army aviation officer and subsequently as assistant division commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Ky.

Until 1983 aviation was a secondary branch specialty for Army officers but aviation became officially recognized as its own separate branch April 12, 1983.

As a brigadier general, Parker served directly under Maj. Gen. Carl Herbert McNair who became the first U.S. Army Aviation Branch Chief. “So Gen. McNair was actually the ‘Father of the Army Aviation Branch,” said retired Army Lt. Col. James Bullinger, who also serves on the Level Plains City Council. “But Gen. Parker was definitely the ‘Godfather of Army Aviation.’”

Bullinger was a first lieutenant stationed in Korea when he got to know then Second Lt. David Parker. He got to know the general when he brought a gift from David Parker back to Fort Rucker for his father.

There was no limit to Parker’s passion for Army Aviation, Bullinger said. “He was able to get so much done for the branch during his tenure,” he said. “That’s why he was called the Godfather of the Army Aviation Branch.”

Getting things accomplished to further the mission of the Army Aviation Branch is exactly how retired Army Col. Bob Bunting, who serves now as mayor of Ozark, remembers Parker. “He was a giant of a man, a leader, so smart, so brilliant,” said Bunting, who served as Parker’s Chief of Staff at Fort Rucker.

With the Army Aviation branch in fledgling status, Parker was named commanding general of the Aviation Center. He served as the aviation branch chief and flight school commandant for 5½ years, setting a tenure record while leading the fledgling branch to “its important and rightful place in the Army,” Bunting said. “He was tireless in his efforts in what was a major undertaking. He made sure that the branch was a total success.”

“Kind and supportive” is how Enterprise businesswoman and civic leader Charlene Goolsby remembers Parker. Goolsby served as president of the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce while Parker was a chamber board member from 1993 until 1995. “He was the kindest person,” she said with a smile. “He was such a supportive person. As nervous and out of my comfort zone as I was being chamber president, Gen. Parker would just look at me with that smile and it gave me confidence.

“I remember the last time we talked,” Goolsby said. “He called the shop (Goolsby Plumbing and Electric) and I thought it was for a service call.

“That was not why he called,” she remembered. “He called to tell me he had read an article about me. He said he felt that I was deserving and he wanted to extend his congratulations. It bought tears to my eyes when the telephone conversation was over.”

Retired Fort Rucker Chief of Protocol Tommie Harding of Enterprise remembers Parker as “likely the most influential commanding general that Fort Rucker has ever had.

“Naturally, he had an enormous impact on the success of Army Aviation and Fort Rucker, but his influence was felt not only in our Wiregrass community, but throughout Washington, D.C.,” she said, adding high praise for Parkers wife, Judy. “I remember that he always loved to talk and his speeches were always positive and uplifting. At any large social gathering, like the Aviation Ball, his remarks could last for an hour or longer.

“Some would wager on how long he would talk,” she added with a smile. “But we all loved him for his enthusiasm, kind regards, and support. He will be sorely missed by all of us.”

That is the truth, Mark Jipson who worked with Parker when the retired general served on the board of directors of Doss Aviation and Aereus International, Inc. “He was the kind of person who made you a better person than what you were,” Jipson said. “He was a man’s man. He exemplified integrity to the highest degree.

“Gen. Parker treated every person with the highest degree of respect from the person who took out the trash to the largest stockholder,” Jipson said. “And of course, they say that behind every great man there is a great woman and that is the absolute truth with Miss Judy,” he added, referring to Judy Claire Matthews Parker, Parker’s wife of 68 years.

Retired Maj. Gen. Lou Hennies served as the commanding general of the United States Army Safety Center and Director of Army Safety at Fort Rucker before retiring from active duty in November 1991. He remembers Parker as a person committed to the mission of Army Aviation. “He was always on top of things,” Hennies said. “He was always so supportive and helpful. If he wasn’t immediately available when you called, he’d call you back in a New York second.”

Parker culminated his 39-year Army career as the Director of the Army Staff. His combat experience includes two tours in Vietnam from 1966-67 and 1969-70.

Due to the COVID-19 virus, a local memorial service followed by internment services at the Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Retreat at Lake Tholocco on Fort Rucker. Checks can be made payable to: Enterprise Lions Club Foundation, PO Box 0598, Enterprise, AL 36331. Include in the memo line of the check, “in memory of LTG Parker”.