Liberty County Outlook - W.G. Bradley

This issue also spotlights one of our local law enforcement officials, but in a far different - and lighter - manner.

Precinct 2 Constable Mike Parrish, who formerly served as Chief of the Daisetta Police Department, has a commendable history in law enforcement, but he also has a successful sideline interest. Parrish is an award-winning internationally known performer and writer of Country Western Songs, whose music enjoys a high level of popularity in Europe and Australia. Read his story beginning on page 4, then go online to www.mikeparrishtexas.com and enjoy his music.

Locals know Constable Mike Parrish best as a law enforcement officer, but fans in Europe and across the world know the Liberty County resident as a rising star in the music industry who is about to release his first album.

"It is something we do on our off time," Parrish said about the musical career. "But we have had pretty good success."

Born in Jacinto City, Texas to MC and Mary Parrish, Mike grew up with three passions - Texas, law enforcement and music. Since his father was in the oil field construction business, work took the family to towns like Hull, Lufkin, Woodville, Giddings and Lafayette, Louisiana, where Mike eventually finished high school.

He got his first guitar on his sixth birthday and had another by the time he turned 8 years old. A year later, he wrote his first three-chord song, a little ditty he titled "If I Had a Dollar."

"I'm still wishing I had a dollar," said Parrish, who is under paid like all those who wear the badge to protect and serve.

His passion for music was further nurtured through school band, for which he played trumpet (*Note: And I played football too!), and in church.

"Mom made sure me and my two sisters sang in church every Sunday," he said.

During his formative years while living in Hull, Mike made friends with another musician, Sammy Hundley, who is a key member of Mike's band today.

"We grew up a country block from each other," Hundley said.

A few weeks ago, Sammy ran across an old notebook full of songs he wrote as a young boy, and it included a few the two wrote together years ago. Even at that early age, the duo appeared destined to share the music stage with one another as they received early influences from groups like Marshall Tucker Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Eagles.

However, the young Texan had another passion during those times, law enforcement. As Mike puts it, there were three things to watch in Hull back then - pumpjacks, railroad tracks and police cars.

"I watched Bobby Rader in that highway patrol car and knew that is what I wanted to do," Mike said about law enforcement work and Rader, who worked as a Trooper for the Department of Public Safety back then but who is a well-known insurance agent and Justice of the Peace in Liberty County today. "I always looked up to and respected law enforcement officers."

After completing high school, Mike approached the Sheriff of Tyler County about entering his ranks, and the elected official suggested he get some military experience and come back and see him then. So after three years in the Army, Parrish returned to find a new Sheriff had been elected. Nevertheless, the department did sponsor Mike in the East Texas Police Academy.

Upon completion of the course and attainment of his peace officer's certification, the young man went to work for the Sour Lake Police Department. After a six-month stint, Mike was hired by the Kountze Police Department, where he served for six years including about three years as Chief of Police. Mike later worked as an investigator for the Hardin County District Attorney's Office but he soon moved to Daisetta, where he was named Chief of Police in 2001.

At the time of his arrival, the town had been without a police department for nearly two years, and Mike was given the task of starting from the ground up. By the end of year two, the city had grants for five officers, and Mike and his staff got busy cleaning up the town.

"We had great success fighting drugs," said Mike, adding that once the drug users were in jail or run out of town, the burglary rate took care of itself." In fact during his first year in town, there were about 30 burglaries reported. By the last year Mike was there, that number had dropped down to two. Believe it or not, Mike said he even busted a methamphetamine lab about 50 yards from the police department's front door.

While serving in Daisetta, Parrish said he took pride in starting the department from ground zero, targeting the city's drug problem and beginning a junior police academy. On the flip side of the coin, Mike said an officer-involved shooting within his department and being run over by a suspect driving a dually truck were two low points.

That driver - Matthew Whitmire - while awaiting trial in Liberty County Jail tried to hire a hitman to target a local DPS Trooper who initiated the chase and witnessed the incident. Whitmire is now serving a lengthy prison sentence for his actions.

When Constable Pct #2 Jimmy Belt resigned his post to accept another law enforcement position, Liberty County Commissioner's Court appointed Parrish to fill the vacant position, and area voters followed up by electing Mike to the post in November (2006).

With a small staff of two, the Constable's Office stays busy serving civil papers for the precinct and enforcing the county's License & Weights Program countywide. While that position keeps him busy, Parrish has found both the time and a way to fulfill his other two passions by writing and singing songs about Texas under the moniker Mike Parrish & SixGun. The group is set to release its first album - Texas in the Man - in late August.

However, all 15 cuts have been on-line for several months, and the music is getting rave reviews from around the world. According to Parrish, the music has been a part of several on-line reality show competitions and it has won a number of awards in the contests.

"It's all about fun," said Mike, adding that his songs "Texas in the Man" and "Blue Jean Baby" are number one and two among listeners voting in the International Fame Games Radio Contest in Europe. Furthermore, there are more than 10,000 fans who are part of Mike's "MySpace" fan page on the internet.

With early thumbs up from listeners across the world, Mike and Sammy are hoping to develop a loyal following locally as well.

When asked how they chose the band's name, Mike said his wife, Tonya, came up with it. Pointing to Mike and citing why, Sammy said, "There needs to be a focal point, and he is the one who wears the hat."

As to why the two picked to self-publish the album and place the songs on the internet first, Mike said, "We don't want to lose control of the overall art of our music, and you can put your music out there for every one."

Addressing music on the internet, Sammy added, "It is a cottage industry, and it is blowing up right now."

While most of the songs are about Texas, one of the album's pieces is a military tribute, which might have been nixed by a publishing house not wanting to make waves on an introductory album.

Reflecting on his music's lyrics, Mike said, "It's not about the money. It's about conviction, and we just really wanted to say what we wanted to say."

Adding the final word and summing up his latest endeavor, Mike said, "I would rather be sitting in a rocking chair saying I tried rather than what if."

For those who want to learn more, hear a tune or two, or order the band's music, log on to www.mikeparrishtexas.com

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