William Don Parkinson (1942 – August 31, 2020) was an American Veteran and Sergeant of the Vietnam war, politician, and lawyer who served as Speaker of the
Guam Legislature
The Legislature of Guam ( ch, Liheslaturan Guåhan) is the law-making body for the United States territory of Guam. The unicameral legislative branch consists of fifteen senators, each serving for a two-year term. All members of the legislature a ...
from 1995 to 1997 and as Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995. A member of the
Democratic Party of Guam, he also served as a Senator for 7 consecutive terms, from 1983 to 1997.
Early life
Parkinson was born in 1942 in Idaho and served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.
[Pacific Daily News]
''Don Parkinson D-Mongmong-Toto-Maite ''
Hagatna, Guam. He graduated from the University of Idaho law school.
[The State Bar of California]
''William Don Parkinson''
California.
Law practice
Parkinson was admitted to the State Bar of California on November 25, 1974, served as a staff attorney for the
Micronesian Constitutional Convention of 1975, and as a prosecuting attorney for
Colfax, Washington.
Guam Legislature
Elections
Leadership roles
Policy
Bills and public laws introduced
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17th Guam Legislature The 17th Guam Legislature was a meeting of the Guam Legislature
The Legislature of Guam ( ch, Liheslaturan Guåhan) is the law-making body for the United States territory of Guam. The unicameral legislative branch consists of fifteen senators, ea ...
- Introduced 16 bills, 2 of which became public laws. including Public Law 17-17, which established a 10 year alternative energy plan for Guam.
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18th Guam Legislature The 18th Guam Legislature was a meeting of the Guam Legislature. It convened in Hagatna, Guam on January 7, 1985 and ended on January 5, 1987, during the 3rd and 4th years of Ricardo J. Bordallo's 2nd Gubernatorial Term.
In the 1984 Guamanian gen ...
- Introduced 21 bills,
[Guam Legislature. ''Bill Sponsor File - 18th Guam Legislature - Don Parkinson'', Hagatna, Guam.] 1 of which became Public Law 18-26, which approved bond issues on behalf of 2 companies for the Guam Economic Development Authority and for which the Government of Guam disclaimed liability.
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19th Guam Legislature The 19th Guam Legislature was a meeting of the Guam Legislature. It convened in Hagatna, Guam on January 5, 1987 and ended on January 2, 1989, during the 1st and 2nd years of Joseph F. Ada's 1st Gubernatorial Term.
In the 1986 Guamanian general ...
- Introduced 6 public laws, including Public Law 19-31, which raised the minimum wage on Guam to $3.75 on January 1, 1989, and Public Law 19-41 that requires that food, drugs, and consumer commodities be marked with an expiration date if recommended by the manufacturer or distributor.
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20th Guam Legislature The 20th Guam Legislature was a meeting of the Guam Legislature. It convened in Hagatna, Guam on January 2, 1989 and ended on January 7, 1991, during the 3rd and 4th years of Joseph F. Ada's 1st Gubernatorial Term.
In the 1988 Guamanian general ...
- Introduced 73 bills,
15 of which became public laws, including Public Law 20-219 which provided a subsidy for essential power coverage.
Unemployment insurance
Parkinson introduced unemployment insurance legislation during each of 5 terms: Bill 929 during the 19th,
[Guam Territorial Law Library. ''Combined list of bills through 227-30'', Hagatna, Guam.] Bill 285 during the 20th, Bill 101 during the 21st,
Bill 123 during the 22nd,
and Bill 99 during the 23rd Guam Legislatures, respectively.
Speaker of the 23rd Guam Legislature
It had been expected that Senator Thomas C. "Tom" Ada would be chosen by his colleagues as Speaker of the Guam Legislature, but a group of Democratic and Republican Senators elected Parkinson as Speaker, instead.
Candidacy for Attorney General of Guam
Parkinson ran for Attorney General of Guam in 2002. He placed 3rd in the general election in November with 15% of the vote.
Personal life and death
Don Parkinson married Marina Parkinson and was the father of 7 children.
One of his children, William M. "Will" Parkinson, ran for the Guam Legislature and the Consolidated Commission on Utilities in 2018.
Parkinson was diagnosed with
Parkinson’s Disease in the late late 1980's. He died in the Philippines on August 31, 2020.
Former Speaker Don Parkinson dies
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parkinson, Don
20th-century American politicians
21st-century American politicians
2020 deaths
Guamanian Democrats
Guamanian lawyers
California lawyers
Washington (state) lawyers
Military personnel from Idaho
University of Idaho College of Law alumni
Members of the Legislature of Guam
Speakers of the Legislature of Guam
1942 births