When Dr. T. Michael Parrish’s father was serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the pivotal attack on Pearl Harbor, he had no idea he was sailing less than a mile from Doris Miller, the very man his son would later dedicate much of his professional life to bringing into history’s light.
If there is one thing Parrish is passionate about, it’s Texas. The Linden G. Bowers Professor of American History spent his formative years in Waco and learned the official state song, “Texas our Texas,” before the national anthem. Parrish’s important historical research on nineteenth-century United States history, Southern history, the Civil War, and Texas history has benefited not only the Baylor community but also historians and learners across America.
As the son of a World War II veteran, Parrish’s interest in war history led him to Doris Miller, a fearless civil rights figure from Waco whose heroism at Pearl Harbor helped pave the way for the desegregation of the U.S. military.
The Navy was quick to dismiss Miller’s heroic acts due to its discriminatory practices. But the African American press and Northern lawmakers did not forget Miller. They spread word of his heroism, and Miller became the first Black American to be awarded the Navy Cross. His heroism at Pearl Harbor, Parrish discovered, was a catalyst for the desegregation of the U.S. armed forces.
Parrish, piecing together this important narrative, put words to Miller’s story and wrote Doris Miller, Pearl Harbor, and the Birth of the Civil Rights Movement, the first scholarly biography to study his achievements. A segment of his book was read aloud at the naming ceremony of the USS Doris Miller, the first supercarrier ever named for a sailor.
Parrish has numerous other publications, including his books Brothers in Gray, Confederate Imprints, Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War, Littlefield History of the Civil War Era, and Richard Taylor.
He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Baylor before going on to the University of Texas to receive a Master of Library Science and a Doctor of Philosophy. He taught at his alma mater from 2002-2013 and currently serves as Professor Emeritus in Baylor’s history department. Parrish met his wife, Julibeth Swenson, while an undergraduate student. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and have a son, Ted, who lives in Dallas with his wife.
Dr. T. Michael Parrish simply loves history, and his passion shines through in his classroom. During his time teaching at Baylor, Parrish imparted his enthusiasm and love for Texas history to countless students, giving them the foundation to understand the world as it is today.
Read about the complete 2026 class of Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony honorees in a special edition of Baylor Line Magazine.
