Cecil Chilton Parker

Cecil Chilton Parker passed away gently on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 after a long illness at the age of 81. Cecil, a proud native son of Victoria, was born October 14, 1941 to the late Alice Davis Parker and Chalice Chilton Parker. Cecil attended Victoria High School and Victoria College, where he excelled academically and in sports. Cecil joined the United States Army during the Vietnam era and was a court reporter. He was honorably discharged and returned to college and graduated from the University of Texas in 1968. Cecil married Karen Allin in December 1968 and they began building Cecil's career together. Cecil lived and shared his faith openly to all that met him. He loved and was loved and will be missed by many.

Cecil is survived by his wife of 54 years, Karen Allin Parker of Victoria, Texas; and his son, Colby Chilton Parker of Clear Lake City, Texas.

Cecil was preceded in death by his father Chalice Chilton Parker; his mother, Alice Davis Parker; and his beloved sister, Nola Adams Jackson.

Visitation will be held Friday, October 28, 2022 from 4-6PM at Colonial Funeral Home. A private graveside will be held the following day.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Cecil's memory may be made to Victoria Symphony, 405 E Loma Vista Ave., Victoria, Texas 77901 or to a charity of your choice.

Thoughts and memories be shared at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com.

Cecil's Career Biography

Cecil Parker is a human resource professional with over 40 plus years experience that includes administrative and business management, strategic and operational planning, and human resources management including labor relations and international compensation and benefit management, total quality planning and development, and executive education and consulting. In addition, he has an executive coaching practice and serves as a Director on four corporate boards.

In February 1988, he began a consulting practice, Cecil Parker Associates, that has focused on high tech clients. He has guided businesses through organizational development processes and strategic and operational planning emphasizing incorporation of total quality processes which become part of the culture. He also facilitates the exploration of philosophical and cultural bases for human resource systems with his clients and teaches workshops and seminars on such topics as Team Concepts, Partnering for Total Quality, Total Quality Leadership and Implementation, Facilitation Skills and Conflict Management. Cecil has served as a consultant to a number of organizations which have been involved in merger or acquisition activities guiding Boards through processes and integrating merged organizations for success.

Cecil has been actively engaged at SEMATECH, the high-tech semiconductor manufacturing consortium, as either a human resources executive or a senior consultant since 1988. He has been instrumental in the design and installation of numerous human resource systems there. As a key consultant, he has administered a culture changing team-building effort and worked with member companies and their key suppliers designing and deploying total quality systems. Cecil is author and instructor of the SEMATECH Total Quality Assessment and Implementation course and serves on its Executive Steering Council for Value Chain Integration. He is a DARPA Facilitator and a University of Texas "Fellow".

Prior to joining SEMATECH and establishing his high-tech consulting practice, Cecil was Vice President of Human Resources at COMPAQ Computer Corporation during the start-up and the early days of explosive growth. He played a key role in developing the philosophy and culture which many believe enabled COMPAQ to attract and empower outstanding employees to propel the company's phenomenal growth and quality achievement. He literally designed, developed and installed its entire array of human systems including international elements.

Before COMPAQ, he was Corporate Director of Employee Relations at Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation. He held a similar position at General Homes Consolidated Companies prior to joining Mitchell. Earlier in Cecil’s career, he held positions of increasing responsibility at PPG Industries and Champion International Corporation. He believes his early experience at PPG was instrumental in his rapid development and advancement to managerial responsibilities quickly.

Cecil received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin with a major in personnel management and industrial relation in 1968. He has been a guest lecturer at several universities in addition to serving as an instructor in the Professional Development Center at UT. Cecil resides in Victoria, Texas with his wife, Karen.