Dr. Parrish came to Iowa State in 1965 after being recruited by Professor Darrel Goll. At the time, Dr. Parrish was a Ph.D. candidate and a faculty member of the Animal Science Department at the University of Missouri-Columbia, his home state. He was hired at ISU as 100% research; now his appointment is 1/2 research and 1/2 teaching. He and Dr. Goll and their students established an internationally recognized research program on the changes in the molecular properties of postmortem muscle, especially the changes in the myofibrillar proteins and their relationship to meat tenderness. The past five years, Dr. Parrish and his graduate students have been the leader in researching conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and its affects on production, meat composition and quality, with co-principal investigators Drs. D. C. Beitz, A. Trenkle and D. R. Zimmerman of the Animal Science Department.

In 1976, Dr. S. A. 'Bud' Ewing, then Head of the Animal Science Department, asked him if he would coach the Meats Judging Team. He agreed, and continued to do so until 1997. Dr. Parrish is now Faculty Advisor to the team. By virtue of his position as Coach of the ISU Meats Judging Team, Dr. Parrish also served as Coordinator of the FFA State Meats Judging Contest and Co-coach of the ISU Meat Animal Evaluation Team. Dr. Parrish notes that his position as team coach was a legendary experience for him, as the team visited many Iowa packing plants and McDonald's, Hardy's, and Burger King Restaurants. Through many towns and cities, and these activities, he learned about the state of Iowa, he says. The coaching position provided him with the opportunity to meet and interact with many students and their families where he focused on the goal of being an ambassador for Iowa State University.

In 1993, Dr. Parrish was recognized by ISU with the Career Achievement in Teaching Award; in 1997, he was named University Professor; and in 2000 he was recognized as VEISHEA Ag College Professor of the Year.

Dr. Parrish is a native of Olney, Missouri, a small community near St. Louis. After graduating from high school, he worked with his father on the family farm, married Fern Rose Westerman, and was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving in Korea. Returning home from military service, he decided to enter college at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he earned his B.S. (1959), his M.S. (1960) and his Ph.D. (1965). He was an instructor in Meat Technology from 1960-1965. He and Fern are the parents of four children and grandparents of seven grandchildren. Fern retired in 1997, after 22 years in the Civil and Construction Engineering Department, ISU.

Future plans include returning to the family farm in Missouri — a very beautiful farm which consists of prairie crop land and oak and hickory woods. They plan to gradually phase out of Iowa and phase into Missouri. F.C. explains that his farm is one of the original farms given by his great-grandfather to one of his children, F.C.'s grandmother. F.C. and Fern are very excited to return to their roots. They have built a new home on the land that will accommodate their growing family.

We'll miss you, F.C. We wish you and Fern a very long retirement blessed with all good things in life!