Roy Earl Parrish | |
|---|---|
 Parrish c. 1916 | |
| Member of the West Virginia Senate for the 12th district | |
| In office January 1915 – July 22, 1918 | |
| Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates for Harrison County | |
| In office January 1913 – January 1915 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 24, 1888 Wallace, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | July 22, 1918 (aged 29) Noyant-et-Aconin, France |
| Resting place | Oise-Aisne American Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1918 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit | 6th Field Artillery Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Silver Star |
Roy Earl Parrish (November 24, 1888 – July 22, 1918) was an American lawyer and politician who served in the West Virginia Senate from 1915 until his death in 1918. He was a member of the Republican Party and represented Harrison, Doddridge, and Lewis counties. Parrish had been a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1913 until 1915, representing Harrison County. Throughout his tenure, he was the youngest member of the legislature.
While in the legislature, Parrish took many progressive positions, and introduced bills establishing worker's compensation and campaign finance reform. He also became one of the principal opponents of Governor Henry D. Hatfield, a fellow Republican, due to Hatfield's desire to increase taxes on natural gas production. In 1916, Parrish was named chairman of the Harrison County Republican Party and vice president of the West Virginia Republican Party, giving him a prominent role in the 1916 presidential election in the state. Parrish was well-regarded in West Virginia; one newspaper said his "word is as good as legal tender".
Though he was still a sitting state senator, Parrish joined the United States Army in 1917 following America's entry into World War I. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 6th Field Artillery Regiment and was sent to the front in May 1918. On July 22, 1918, Parrish was killed in action near the town of Noyant-et-Aconin in northern France.