Former South Bend mayor talks leadership in new book, 'Getting Things Done'

Roger O. Parent is a former mayor of South Bend. If you’ve been around for a while, then you know this. For those keeping score or for those who don’t follow the news, he was in office before Joe Kernan, Stephen Luecke and Pete Buttigieg.

All right. What is new is a book by the former mayor. “Getting Things Done” was recently published by Filibuster Press. The book can be purchased at filibusterpress.com.

The two-term mayor served from 1980 to 1987. A lot got done in those years. For example, the construction of Coveleski Stadium, the East Race and New Energy Ethanol. Roger wants to share stories of success and what was learned from growing up in Maine and his family’s strong work ethic. Then there was his time in the Peace Corps. Then there are more chapters about coming to South Bend and his need to work in public service from city council to mayor and, later, on the school board.

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Then there are new stories about staying involved with social action.

He said he likes telling stories.

So let’s hear what he has to say. What’s a good place to meet the author? How about downtown South Bend? Good place to be in a city close to his heart. Time for a little coffee and conversation.

Each story in the book is short, a few pages. Most have a lesson to share. “I started taking notes about leadership.” Then the notes got put away. Then it was time to bring them out.  “Lessons don’t change from then to today.”

The lessons can be boiled down in many cases to being truthful, listening, positivity and action.

He said it is most important to be open minded about what can be done. Listen to everyone. “I had learned that excellent ideas come from many people and places,” he said in the book. The East Race and Coveleski Stadium came from the fertile imaginations of local citizens.

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In getting things done, a staff of brilliant people is essential in accomplishing anything, he said. It is not about “I.” It is more about collective “we.”

The Tribune’s Jack Colwell wrote the preface for the book. Jack said Parent built foundations for many later city developments. A number of mayors, including Mayor Pete, were able to deliver more to the city because of Roger.

Roger grew up in Maine in a large family. They spoke French before English. He spoke with reverence about his parents. His father was a carpenter and could build anything. “He taught me to take the first step and not worry.” Just do it and to be honest.

Pre-South Bend, Roger received an undergraduate degree from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia. He served in the Peace Corps in Thailand from 1961-63. In 1964, he arrived in South Bend with his wife, Rolande. They were impressed with South Bend’s stores and streets the first day. They both came from northern Maine and he was in Thailand. This did look big in comparison.

He got his master’s degree in education and was working for his doctorate. However, he needed a job to support a growing family. There were four children. Today, they are spread across the country. With the help of the internet, no one is too far away.

Roger remembers writing to Rolande back in Maine. Writing letters, on paper. Nothing electronic back then. It would take weeks to communicate. The sweetness of waiting for a letter.

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All right, back to what happens next with the Parents. He needed employment. “I worked in neighborhood development and anti-poverty programs,” he said. He came face to face with poverty and racial discrimination.

Roger wanted to do more for the city he now called home. He ran for city council and was president of the council for five years. “I was always interested in politics. It was a way to do something for the city. I have always had a public service mentality.”

Later, he felt he could do more as mayor. “I enjoy the process of getting things done.”

Roger’s book details what happened along the way. There were bumps and short-sightedness among some citizens when it came to development such as the baseball stadium. There were the odd events such as a python roaming Jefferson Boulevard and its eventual departure from this world.

He writes about the importance of increasing the number of African Americans and women in city government.

After leaving the mayor’s office, he served in the Peace Corp again in Haiti and several other countries. Later he was on the South Bend school board. In 2006, he and Rolande founded a nonprofit known as World Dignity, Inc. It funds scholarships in Thailand, India and Bangladesh. “There are at least 60 great success stories” from the scholarships, he wrote.

Are there 25 more lessons out there to share?  He paused. “Probably not.”

Contact Kathy at kfborlik@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Former South Bend Mayor Roger O. Parent reflects on leadership