PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Friends and family of Senator Carl Parker are keeping his name alive.
Over the weekend his children hosted a book signing where those who attended got to buy the book he wrote before his death, and watch an interview of Parker telling his life story.
Carl Parker died in March. Months before the Port Arthur natives book, which details his life and legacy, had been released.
"People that knew him and that read the book, it's like a walk down memory lane," said Carl Parker's son, Allen Parker.
As a kid Allen Parker admired his father who was an established lawyer and politician. He says his mom typed the book, "Turtle on a Post" as his dad dictated it.
"My dad wrote this book, and he wrote it several years ago. We were hoping he'd be here to sign it, but it's pretty neat reading it and knowing all the stories we've heard of our whole life, you know?" said Allen Parker.
The autobiography goes into detail on Carl Parker's time in Austin.
"You always wonder why this bill got passed or how that happened, well he gives you some of background stuff that was going on and some of the hurdles and things he had to deal with," said Museum of the Gulf Coast Director Tom Neal.
Before politics, Parker got his law degree from the University of Texas.
"He could've made a whole lot of money just being a lawyer, but he always felt like he needed to do something that made a difference for people so that's why he served over 30 years in the legislature in the house and thought the senate," said Neal.
Carl Parker's impact can be seen throughout Texas.
"He got the child safety seat legislation passed," said Neal.
He passed this bill by bringing a live alligator to the senate floor.
"He brought that alligator just to let them know that alligator had more legislation protecting it than a child did riding in an automobile," said Neal.
Parker pushed for bills Impacting drainage and ports.
There is also a display of Parker at the Museum of the Gulf Coast.
"When Lamar State College of Technology wanted to become Lamar University, there was Carl right in the middle of that pushing forward on that," said Neal.
You can learn more about Carl Parker's impact on the entire State of Texas by visiting the Museum of the Gulf Coast, or reading his new book.