John W. Parris, 88, of Columbia, died on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at Prisma Health Richland Hospital.

A native of Spartanburg County, Parris was born and grew up near Campobello. The last surviving member of his immediate family, he was the son of Joseph R. Parris and Grace Henderson Parris and was predeceased by his parents, a brother Paul and his wife Gail, a sister Dorothy P. Oliver and a nephew Danny Parris. He is survived by a nephew, Edward, his wife, Linda, their daughter, Kayla, and brother-in-law, Doyle Oliver.

A member of the last graduating class of Campobello High School, Parris served as president of the Student Body and the FFA. He also served as Junior Leader of the Campobello 4-H Club.

He enrolled in Clemson University in August 1954, to major in Agricultural Education. He attended the National 4-H Congress that fall where he was awarded as the Alpha Gamma Rho scholarship as the Outstanding 4-H Club Boy in America.

Upon graduation from Clemson in 1958, Parris taught Agri-Science and Technology at Chester High School for six years and two years in the Anderson City Schools. He was advisor to the FFA and the Young Farmers Organization. During that time, he was a co-founder and director of the SC Accredited Horse Show Association. He chaired the Tri-State Accredited Show in Anderson in 1965 with more than 300 horses competing.

In 1966, Parris was named associate state director of the SC Soil and Water Conservation Commission and in 1972, he was named executive director of the agency that had become the SC Land Resources Commission. He served in that position until 1994 and introduced drip irrigation and conservation tillage technology to South Carolina agriculturalists. He was responsible for a number of natural resource laws being enacted including the State Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Act.

Upon retirement from the Land Resources Agency, Parris served as interim director of Clemson University's Sandhill Research and Education Center for two years. He was then named state director of public relations for Agricultural Education and the FFA that included editing the state Ag Ed magazine for 15 years. He retired at age 75 and became director of the SC Agri-News Service.

Parris served as president of the SC Soil and Water Conservation Society, the SC Agricultural Council, the Pendleton Farmers Society and chairman of the Clemson University Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences Alumni Board of Directors. He was founder and life trustee of the SC Conservation Districts Foundation.

A nationally recognized agricultural leader and conservation visionary, Parris was recipient of the National Professional Conservationist Award, the National FFA VIP Award, Man of the Year in South Carolina Agriculture Award, Clemson University Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award and the Order of the Palmetto. He was the first South Carolinian named to the National Conservation Hall of Fame.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 27th, at 10:30 AM in the main sanctuary of the First Baptist Church in Columbia where he was a member. Interment will be in the Roselawn Memorial Gardens near Inman at 3:30 PM. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Columbia Television Ministry at 1306 Hampton Street Columbia SC 29201or to the John W. Parris Agricultural Leadership Endowment, Clemson University Foundation, 155 Old Greenville Hwy, Clemson SC 29631.