Mary Lou Parks (July 24, 1939 – August 23, 2015) was a Michigan politician.

Mary Lou Parks
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 3rd district
In office
July 1, 1993 – 1998
Preceded byJoseph F. Young Sr.
Succeeded byArtina Tinsley Hardman
Personal details
Born(1939-07-24)July 24, 1939
Anderson, South Carolina
DiedAugust 23, 2015(2015-08-23) (aged 76)
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materWayne State University

Early life

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Parks was born on July 24, 1939, in Anderson, South Carolina.[1]

Education

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Parks attended Wayne State University.[1]

Career

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Parks was executive assistant to U.S. Congressman George Crockett Jr. from 1975 to 1983. Parks was the special assistant Michigan Governor James Blanchard from 1983 to 1990. State representative Joseph F. Young Sr. died on April 9, 1993, sparking a special election to fill his vacancy. On June 29, 1993, Parks won this special election. She was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives where she represented the 3rd district from July 1, 1993, to 1998.[1] Parks ran in the 1998 Michigan Secretary of State election, but was defeated by Candice Miller. Parks was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Michigan in 1976, 1980, and 1988. Parks was an alternate delegate to Democratic National Convention in 1984 and 2004.[2]

Personal life

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Parks was divorced and had five children. Parks was a member of the NAACP.[1][2]

Death

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Ferguson died on August 23, 2015.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Legislator Details - Mary Lou Parks". Library of Michigan. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Parks". Political Graveyard. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Michigan Secretary of State
1998
Succeeded by
Melvin Hollowell