Former president still active with rodeo
By DAVID LOWE Staff Writer

PHOTO BY DAVID LOWE John Parks served as 2007 president of the Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce. A retired banker, Parks continues his chamber involvement as a member of the Riata Roundup committee, and he ranches with his brother in San Saba County.

In his seven years as a Lampasas County resident, John Parks has seen Lampasas grow dramatically. He witnessed the changes regularly as president of First Texas Bank, where he served many customers new to the county.

Parks also sought to capitalize on growth as president of the Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce, and he believes increased traffic and population bring new opportunities to promote Lampasas and its businesses.

Parks, whose one-year term as president of the chamber of commerce ended in January, said community-wide events, from the Bloomin' Fest to the Riata Roundup, attract visitors and show new residents the character of Lampasas.

"We've been very event-oriented," Parks said of the chamber. "We have a lot of events that emphasize our small-town values."

As the county grows, agriculture remains an important part of the area economy. The Riata Roundup, held at Little Bear Ranch north of Lampasas, reflects the county's ranching heritage, and plant booths at the Bloomin' Fest allow farmers and gardeners to advertise their wares.

A chamber member for four years before his presidency, Parks is in his fourth year on the Riata Roundup committee. The event draws large crowds at Little Bear's covered arena and attracts customers to Lampasas County stores, restaurants and hotels, Parks said. "It's gotten bigger, and I think we're getting better at what we're doing," he said of the rodeo.

Committee members hope to increase prize money and attract prominent cowboys in future years to make the Riata Roundup a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association- sanctioned event.

Along with the rodeo's development, the chamber of commerce's move from the former Santa Fe train depot to its new location on U.S. Highway 281 also marked Parks' tenure as president. The chamber hopes to purchase the building by the end of this year, Parks added.

"I think the move was good, both to own our own building and to be on the highway instead of on a side street," he said.

With the chamber of commerce more visible to travelers, visitors regularly stop by the building to pick up promotional literature, which Parks said was rare at the former location.

"We see a lot of people stop just to see what Lampasas has to offer," he said.

Lampasas' small-town setting attracts many newcomers, Parks said. Chamber directors' efforts also draw attention to the town and its businesses, he added.

Wal-Mart manager Louise Beam is serving as 2008 president, and the chamber of commerce benefits from her organizational and personnel skills, Parks said.

The former president also praised executive director Jill Jones for her leadership on the chamber board.

"Jill made my job pretty easy," Parks said. "She's efficient, she's smart, and pretty much I showed up at the meetings and did what she told me to do."

While he remains active with the Riata Roundup committee, Parks has immersed himself in ranch work of his own, as he and his brother run a cattle operation in San Saba County.

The retired banker and former chamber president also enjoys seeing his two daughters -- one an Austinite and the other a new resident of Dripping Springs -- and his two grandsons.