James W. Parrish

James W. Parrish was born in Quitman, Georgia, but grew up in Greenville, Florida, a small rural community just below the Georgia border. He received an AA Degree from North Florida Junior College, a BA in History from Florida State University and an MA in Political Science from the University of South Florida. Mr. Parrish served in Florida local government administration for over twenty years, including nine years as County Administrator of Leon County, Florida, from 1980 to 1989, before starting his own business. The author's Wiregrass roots run deep as a result of the migration of his ancestors from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina into southern Georgia between the late 1700's and mid 1800's. While researching the branches of his family tree, Parrish found that two maternal great-great grandfathers served in the 50th Georgia Infantry Regiment. As he researched the military records of his ancestors it became clear that no single comprehensive source had ever been written that followed the men of the 50th Georgia from initial organization in early 1862, to the final surrender in April 1865. Wiregrass to Appomattox: The Untold Story of the 50th Georgia Infantry Regiment, CSA, is the result of a decade-long quest to tell the long overdue story of the men who served in this almost forgotten regiment. Released in December 2008, Wiregrass to Appomattox has received numerous favorable reviews from nationally recognized historians and Civil War publications. In October 2009, the Lowndes County, Georgia Historical Society honored Mr. Parrish with a Keeper of History award for enhancing the history of Lowndes County. In June 2010, the United Daughters of the Confederacy awarded Mr. Parrish with the prestigeous Jefferson Davis Historical Gold Medal Certificate for "preserving Confederate history with his research and publication" of Wiregrass to Appomattox. Mr. Parrish was instrumental in the design, preparation and installation of a historic interpretive marker to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 50th Georgia's role in the Battle of Fox's Gap, MD, which occurred on September 14, 1862. On September 7, 2012, a formal marker dedication ceremony was held at the Fox's Gap Battlefield. Mr. Parrish spoke at the ceremony and officially dedicated the marker on behalf of the 50th Georgia descendants. In July 2013, the Sons of Confederate Veterans inducted Mr. Parrish into the Bonnie Blue Society. Membership in the Society is limited to those who "Research, write and publish a book or article on the Confederacy for the general public. The article must be published in a magazine, journal, or newspaper with a general circulation."