To my good friend William Parker

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Bob Carter

Bob Carter

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
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I always turn to William's column whenever I get a chance to read my Decor. After a crazy season, I finally got around to it.

While it was no surprise, I did cause me to reflect upon William and his impact upon me

William and I first met in Vegas a few years (that's how many when you really can't remember) back where we "guest experts" on the WCAF panel (along with a couple of folks that are also no longer in the trade Marc Bluestone and some guy that was the CEO of Aaron Bros-Bruce Dale moderated by Jay Goltz). Never sure why they asked me, but it was a start of a wonderful friendship

We all sat around a table at a pre-show meeting looking at each other pretty much the way a bunch of stray dogs lok at a fire hydrant-not sure who was going to make the first move. I did not know any of them and Marc and Jay were friends

William took the time to listen and respond as if he was truly interested in what I had to say and I appreciated that welcoming gesture

Not long afterwords, he was instrumental in the not always easy transition of PPFA into PMA. That is when he roped me in to service in PPFA. I did it because he set such a great example and made me feel embarrassed that I wasn't doing as much in giving back

One of the highlights of every meeting (in every city) was a quiet sitdown with my friend where we would single handledly solve pretty much every issue in the trade. We would rarely agree on technique but always on concept. A common refrain was "I understand your point and it will probably work, but may I suggest another approach?" I truly never left a single meeting where I thought "Man, Parker is nuts" while I'll bet he cannot say the same

But, the most important thing about those opportunities were that he always made me think and I always had to bring my "A" game

As we see William ride off into the sunset, you will not see any sadness from me. He did do more for us than we ever did and that will always bring a smile to this face. I sure will miss those face to face chances

There just are not many that can fill those shoes

And, that is the only thing that saddens me

Godspeed, my friend
 
I enjoyed reading this tribute, Bob. It did leave me with one question, though. Has he died or just retired? I hope it's the latter. Hope hope.....
 
I will truly miss his articles, especially the ones (which were most) with his Corgi. He humanized this industry.
God Speed, whatever path he has taken.
 
Wow - just read the article on the DECOR website. I, too, have counted on William as a friend and mentor. I'll miss his advice and sunny outlook on the business. good Luck, William in your future endeavours....
 
I read the article a few weeks ago. It looked like the last year was a rough one. He is a great person and I wish him all the luck in the world with his new endeavors.
 
Yay! This must mean he's still alive. Glad to hear it. :icon21:

Maybe I'm just jumpy from listening to "Fresh Aire" on NPR. It seems like half the time when I tune in to a great interview, they get to the end of it and say, "Teri spoke with Mister So and So in June of 2003. He died today after being trampled by hamsters...." It gets so that I cringe until the end of the interview hoping the person hasn't yet shuffled off the mortal coil.
 
Quite a loss for the industry. I wish him well! This quote from his article summed it up for me................

“I guess a lot of your picture-framer friends have had rough years too,” Eli said.

“Yes, they have,” I answered, “and I hope they can see beyond the moment and realize the opportunities that change can bring.”

The one thing I realized when I closed my own store is that change was coming and that was a good thing. Knowing that made it okay for me to leave. I don't even have a full-time job yet but with the way the economy has been the past few months the sense of freedom is immense.

What a great man William Parker is. He will be missed in this industry.
 
Thanks Bob. I was so stunned by this a couple of weeks ago, it just wasn't processing through. A nuclear bomb going off in some part of the world would have made more sense to me.
PPFA is not going to be the same, ever.
 
I will miss Eli as well!

I hope Mr. Parker writes some wonderful books in his new free time. I will surely miss his commentary on our industry.
 
And a beautifuly pressed and starched white shirt. Very classy man. I hope he will still be a part of our local PPFA chapter.
 
:beer:

---
Mike
 
Thank you for bringing William's article to our attention. Usually Ahlene and I read Decor as we sit at our round table during lunch but we were so busy December we didn't have time (thankfully so). After I read your post I picked up the edition and read it aloud to Ahlene and by the end I was nearly joking on my last words. He will truly be missed by this industry and all who knew him, as will we miss Eli.

Thank you William Parker for teaching and sharing all these years. I will miss talking with you at Vivian's garden parties.

Lori
 
William is the finest person I have ever met. Honorable, always helpful, very funny, a truly great person. There are not many people who could live up to that tribute, but William is one who completely does.

They say what you put out comes back to you so William is in for a truly remarkable, fulfilling future. If the industry is lucky it will be in framing.
 
Thank you, Bob, for posting that sincere tribute and beginning this overdue thread of recognition. It would be impossible to overstate William's contributions to our industry. I always enjoyed his column and other articles, and in particular his way of humanizing the industry. In a business where there often isn't much comeraderie on a local level, and being in business can sometimes be a lonely road, his presence was like having a friend in business who could relate to our experiences, much like the Grumble is now.

On a light note (and switching now to second person, assuming William will be reading this at some point): William, your appearance in photos always puts me in mind of one of our founding fathers. ;)
Considering all you've done, I don't think that analogy is such a stretch.

All the best to you in your next endeavors. Hope you won't be a stranger to these pages. You are always welcome.

:cool: Rick
 
My husband, who is not a framer by any stretch of the imagination, would often go to Chapter meetings with me, and many times you would find him and William off in a corner someplace talking "Mopars and Farmalls." He made Joe feel so welcome.

William is a "class act." We've talked since the article came out, and some of the things he is doing now really makes me happy.

Many of us are looking at different futures - and not just for the economy's sake. As we grow older, our "calling" changes.
 
Hey Rick-I agree with your Founding Fathers analogy (especially when he wore his glasses and peered over the top of them)

But, my favorite analogy is one of Winston Churchill

During the PPFA transition, William was the absolute perfect man at the worst possible time in the most trying of circumstances. He did it with grace, skill and "gentle" arm twisting. I truly do not know anyone that could have pulled it off
 
The rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated!
William is alive and well -- and still in the industry--he just had an challenging year.

You'll hear from him sometime this week.

Vivian Kistler
 
William has been a good friend for a long time. He is a fine man, an insightful leader, and a contributor to all that is good about our industry.

He has been in transition for more than half of this year, and I have not talked with him lately, but I'll bet he remains prominent in the framing industry.
 
What I like most about Williams writings is his amazing ability to humanize business. I wished I could re-read a Christmas article he wrote in Framing Monthly a few years ago. I don't remember the details but I clearly remember the spirit of the piece.

His place was one on my list to visit and is one of the closest to me. Sadly by the time I made it down there, a few months ago, I was informed that he had moved on.
 
Yes David, thank you for pointing out and correcting my post. I would change it in a heart beat if I knew how.

Lori
 
Willliam is one of the Good Guys. PPFA is lucky to have had him at the helm when we entered rough waters.

I can hardly wait to see where his adventure of life will lead next. You go, William!
 
I couldn't help but notice this thread and wanted to let everyone know that William will continue writing his Parker's Perspective column on a monthly basis in DECOR. He'll also continue to contribute to Volume - both his Zero To Sixty column and business feature stories - and he's working with us on a special online education initiative (more details coming soon).

So, he'll definitely maintain a strong presence in the industry.

I also noticed the mention of his previous annual holiday column, which appeared in the December 2004 issue of our former Framing Monthly publication. Here's the link for anyone who wants to read it (please copy and paste it if it doesn't work here).

http://www.decormagazine.com/ME2/Au...8E50ED&AudID=7DB4B15D1DB145EFB0E717944344C5A5

This is such a timeless and inspiring piece for all custom framers. I remember tearing up when I edited it more than four years ago, and sure enough, I couldn't keep a dry eye the second time around either!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the Chinese dinner this year, as I'll be in New York for our International Artexpo show. I'm going to miss the limo ride and all the fun at the restaurant. I will be at the WCAF, though, so hopefully I'll get to bump into some of you there!

Kristin Stefek Brashares
Managing Editor, DECOR
 
Yeah, this one pre-dated Eli, but I always look forward to those as well!

I just realized there's a WCAF Chinese dinner. I thought it was just at the PMA/PPFA show. I might be going after all then!

Kristin
 
Thats the one. Thanks for posting that. I had been looking for it. There is a bad link I found on the G when I asked William about the story.
 
I was fortunate enough to have met and worked with William, albeit briefly, and found him to be intelligent, attentive and polite, a real pleasure to visit with, truly a class act.
 
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