FFA Sentinel

The Legacy of J.L. Parish

Geneva FFA Officers 1955-1956 J.L. Parish, FFA Adviser 1943-1991

r. J.L. Parish began his teaching career in M1938 at Wetumpka High School. After one year, he left and taught three years at Goshen High School before coming to Geneva in 1943. He retired in 1991. At one time, Mr. Parish had been the longest tenured teacher in Alabama at 53 years. The vocational building was the first to be built where the current high school sits today. Mr. Parish laid the foundation for decades as one of the best FFA chapters in the state. First and foremost, Mr. Parish was a gentleman. For example, he always opened the car door for his wife, he always used manners, when he met people, he would firmly shake their hand and look them straight in the eyes, and he always dressed professionally. He helped anyone he could and was there for his community and students. As a teacher, Mr. Parish was firm but fair. He treated everyone with respect and could be demanding at times because he expected his FFA students to always do their best. Often he would say, “If you’re going to be a ditch digger, be the best ditch digger you can be!” He did not tolerate laziness or poor character. He taught his students that their word should mean something, and they should stand behind it. He instilled in his students the value of hard work, and he would constantly remind them that something for nothing was a lazy man’s way. He would tell his students, “Hard work and a good attitude will take you far in life.” Mr. Parish was the true meaning of FFA.

Mr. Parish was one of many great teachers that I had at Geneva High School who truly influenced me. I told him one day that I was thinking about becoming an Ag teacher, but I didn’t know how to go about it. After I told him this, he glowed with excitement. He told me that he would guide me and help me any way he could. A few days later, Mr. Parish and his wife rode with me to Auburn University. I will always remember the trip to Auburn: Mrs. Parish told me that I needed a haircut and to quit wearing that stinking perfume. I told her that I had long hair, and had worn my cologne for all my ladies. She told me she hated to see what my ladies looked like. Mr. Parish told her to leave me alone. We spent the whole day on Auburn campus. Everywhere we went, it seemed as if they all knew Mr. Parish. We even walked in and spoke to the Dean of the College. I thought I was visiting there with the governor or president because he was so popular. I was clueless, but Mr. Parish guided me through a lot that

Mr. Parish with a student at a livestock event in 1952.

day. Mr. Parish was getting up in age, but he didn’t complain at all. He was just so excited that one of his students wanted to become an Ag teacher. Needless to say, I didn’t get to make it back to Auburn; life just happened and I make no excuses. My mother got diagnosed with cancer and my life went another direction. Mr. Parish kept encouraging me to work hard and to put my talent to use. He saw potential in me that I definitely didn’t see in myself. I look back at how selfless it was of Mr. Parish to take the time out of his life to help me. How many teachers would really do that today?

The FFA motto is “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.” He truly believed in the FFA motto. Today, as an FFA adviser myself, I am often asked, “What is FFA?” My response is that it is the largest student organization in the world and is based upon work ethics and character in promoting agriculture education. Mr. Parish started Geneva FFA back in the 1940s, and his students went on to win several awards through the decades. These awards are displayed today in the halls of Geneva High School. Not many schools can say they have a state banner from the 1940s. There have been several parents, grandparents and members of the community who have visited Geneva High School and are pleasantly surprised to see that we have not forgotten the many decades of tradition that are displayed. They all say thank you for not forgetting the memories and tradition of our former students. I will always remember one evening in particular when we had an open house for new students and an elderly woman was crying in the hallway. She could hardly stop crying as she looked at the awards that were hanging on the wall. She said that one of the pictures displayed was of her brother who had passed away and it warmed her heart to see that we had not forgotten the rich history of Geneva High School.

Geneva FFA has not forgotten its rich history. That tradition continues on today with its many talented students. FFA is about becoming a better person and asking the questions: What can I do to become a better student? Leader? What can I do to give back to my community that I love? What impact can I make on others? As I look back, I can’t help but reflect on the impact that Mr. Parish had on students that he encountered over his many years teaching. I know this because I was one of those he impacted, and I have also heard from many people over the years who mention how much he influenced their lives, too. One day Mr. Alan Waters, a retired Ag teacher from Enterprise High School, whom I also have much respect for, told me that he never saw Mr. Parish in all those years not wearing a tie. I too never saw him without his tie. He was always dressed professionally. I don’t wear a tie every day like Mr. Parish did, but maybe I can pass down something to my students that can help impact them the way Mr. Parish did for his students.

It did take me several years to make it back to Geneva to become an Ag teacher, but I made it. I hope that he would be proud of me continuing the FFA tradition that he started back in 1943. I know Mrs. Parish would be glad that I do not have long hair anymore (or hardly any for that matter), but his wife would still be disappointed because I still wear that stinking perfume she didn’t like.

Geneva FFA had its own bus in 1954.