James Parker McCollough

James Parker McCollough, age 74, of Austin, Texas, died from complications of cardiac AL amyloidosis on October 31, 2024, surrounded by his family and close friends in the family’s mountain home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Born in Amarillo, Texas to J C and Norma Jim Cornett McCollough, Parker was the third of four children. He loved causing mischief throughout elementary school, always finding ways to make his family and teachers laugh. He was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America, earning medals and bragging rights throughout his childhood. Parker attended Panhandle public schools, where he participated in football and track, winning first place overall in the state’s 880 race. Upon graduation, Parker attended South Plains College in Levelland, Texas on a track scholarship for his Associates degree, which sparked his passion for law and justice. In 1971, he transferred to Texas Tech University where he earned his undergraduate degree in Business and began his journey as a lawyer. During these years of his life, his summers were spent working at the YMCA Camp in Estes Park, Colorado, and selling textbooks across the eastern United States. He credited both experiences to opening his eyes to the world outside of the Texas panhandle.

After receiving his J.D. at Texas Tech, he settled in Georgetown, Texas, joining the law firm with his friend Bill Connor, where he became involved in the local community and began raising his two oldest children. He frequently did pro bono legal work, ran the clock at Southwestern University basketball games, and served as a public defender on multiple occasions. He enjoyed refereeing the local high school football games and served as a municipal judge in Williamson County. In 1988, Parker successfully ran for State Representative, House District 52 in the Texas Legislature. This was a turning point in Parker’s career, fueling his love for state politics as well as for relationship-building with some of Texas’s greatest personalities. He met Rhonda Puls at the Texas Capitol, where they fell in love and married on June 23, 1991, adding two more children to the family. He dedicated his life to his family and to public service, becoming a regulatory lobbyist in Austin, Texas until his passing.

Parker was a proud father, coaching little league teams with a fierce and fun dedication to the sport and instilling a reverence for the lessons and the joy of the game. He cried every time he sang the national anthem at sporting events, something that befuddled and later warmed his children’s hearts because of his love for his country. Parker made it his mission to take each of his four kids to a presidential inauguration to witness the peaceful transition of power and never missed an opportunity to help register his kids to vote in each election and take them to the polls. He ingrained in them, above all, a belief that we are to enjoy our lives to the fullest and strive to help others do the same.

One of Parker’s greatest sources of fulfillment was his commitment to Alcoholics Anonymous. In many ways, AA was the defining force of his life, reshaping his relationship with his family, his colleagues, his relationship to God and the world around him. Each Saturday he would attend a men's AA meeting at a local Austin church, communing with his AA brothers to uplift one another in their journey. He acted as a sponsor for countless individuals, never missing an opportunity to show up for those who needed it most, just as his sponsor did for him in his time of need. He began his recovery journey in 2002 and recently celebrated 22 years of sobriety shortly before his passing.

Parker was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Randa McCollough Nowotny. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 33 years, Rhonda McCollough, his four children, Cory (Jaime Villanueva), James (Audra Sharifi Isfahani), Murphy (Kolton McDougald), and Chandler (John Holt), his sisters Kay (Terry Milligan) and Gail, and his beloved grandchildren, Lucia, Anna, CJ and Coco, as well as many nieces and nephews who thought the world of him.

A public visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 13th from 5:30-7:30 PM at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home (5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin, TX 78731). The family will be having a private burial at the Texas State Cemetery on Thursday, November 14th. Parker’s celebration of life service will be at Riverbend Church on Friday, November 22nd at 1 PM in the Smith Chapel. Donations to Austin Recovery Center to support fellow recoverees in his honor, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, or AL Amyloidosis Foundation would be greatly appreciated. Flower arrangements can be coordinated through Westbank Flower Market (512-327-3374).