William Vann Parker

William "Vann" Parker (December 22, 1901 – November 25, 1987) was an American mathematician who worked primarily in classical algebra. He was chair of the mathematics department at both Louisiana State University in the 1940s and Auburn University in the 1950s. He was also the Graduate Dean at Auburn during integration in Alabama.

Early life and education On December 22, 1901, Parker was born in Monroe, North Carolina to Benjamin Franklin Parker and Sarah Della Cox. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of North Carolina in 1923 followed by a Master of Arts degree the following year. While at the University of North Carolina, he was a member of the Di Society, Math Club, Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society, and Union Country Club. He was also an Assistant Instructor in Mathematics during his senior year. He attended Princeton University between 1926 and 1927; and eventually obtain a PhD at Brown University in 1931 under his advisor Albert Arnold Bennett. In 1943, he would become the head of the math department at Louisiana State University until leaving in 1947. He then became a regents professor at University of Georgia between 1947 and 1950. He is credited for creating the mathematics program at Auburn. In 1953, he took on the additional role of Graduate Dean at Auburn until his retirement on July 1, 1972. From 1953 to 1971 he was a council representative of Auburn University for the Oak Ridge Associated Universities. At Auburn he advised, Robert Ackerson (1955) and Marion Wicht Sr. (1957).

While he was the dean of the graduate school he oversaw the first doctorate programs at Auburn. As dean of the graduate school, he was the defendant in the court case Franklin v. Parker. Parker rejected Harold Franklin's application to the graduate school at Auburn for not graduating from a college that was accredited with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The court found that this is a reasonable policy in an ideal world. However, given that Alabama only accredited the white schools and let the black schools accreditations to expire, Parker was found to have discriminated against Franklin by following the policy that he was instructed to follow. In January 1964, Parker and Malcolm McMillan, a history professor, helped Franklin register for classes at the library while the national guard ensured their safety from the crowds.

Awards and honors

He was a member of the Mathematics Association of America. He helped start the Alabama Association of College Teachers of Mathematics. He was a member of Sigma Xi and Pi Mu Epsilon.

He was listed in Who's Who in America for 1976–1977. He was also included in Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Who's Who Education, Who's Who Atoms, American Men of Science, and Leaders in American Science. Carolyn and Vann Parker had a son and two daughters.

Death and legacy In his honor, the Auburn Board of Trustees decided to name the mathematics building Parker Hall. Parker died on November 25, 1987, in Birmingham, Alabama, and was buried at Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery. +List of speakers for the Lewis-Parker Lecture

Selected works In 1960, he wrote the book Matrices with James Clifton Eaves.