Jay S. Parker

Parker was born in Morland, Kansas July 1, 1895, and educated in Hill City graduating from high school in 1913.[2][3] He obtained his law degree in 1918 from the University of Kansas School of Law and proceeded to start practising law in Hill City.[2]

He had an interest in crippled children and was the key sponsor of the Crippled Children Law in Kansas.[2]

In 1922, he was elected as the Graham County attorney, and served six terms in that office.[3] He resigned that position when he was appointed to the position of Assistant Attorney General in 1938.[2][4] He was the Kansas Attorney General January 9, 1939 to January 11, 1943.[5]

He ran in 1942 for the fourth position on the supreme court as a Republican against Harry K. Allen the incumbent Democrat.[6] Winning the seat he vacated the Attorney General position that was taken by the then Assistant Attorney General Alexander Baldwin Mitchell from Lawrence.[6]

Parker became the Chief Justice as the most senior justice when Walter G. Thiele retired due to court mandatory retirement rules.[7] Walter G. Thiele had only been in the role a few days due to automatically becoming the chief justice when William A. Smith resigned before the end of his term.[7]

Parker ran to retain the position for a second term which he achieved obtaining 75% of the vote in favour.[8] In February 1966 he announced that he would retire on May 1, 1966 several months earlier than the end of the full term.[9]

Parker died in a Topeka, Kansas convalescence center on April 28, 1969, aged 73, after suffering with cancer and a cerebral haemorrhage.[3] He left behind his wife Virginia Grace Parker and a daughter Mrs. Floyd Pinnick, he also had a sister and three brothers.[10] He is buried in the Hill City cemetery.[10]

• Kansas Historical Society - Photograph of Jay S. Parker