Former Commissioner & Delegate John Knight Parlett Dead at 68
MECHANICSVILLE --- John Knight Parlett, a former commissioner and delegate who represented the north end of St. Mary’s County, first on the Board of Commissioners from 1974 to 1978 and then as Delegate from 1981 to 1986, died on Sunday, May 1^st.

Parlett, a Democrat, served on the first 5-member commissioner board, often a political ally of Dr. J. Patrick Jarboe. Parlett was also a Metropolitan Commissioner. Parlett lost a Democratic Primary election in 1978 to John William Quade, who was elected Delegate, representing the northern end of St. Mary’s County, as well as a small portion of Charles County.  Parlett also served with James Manning McKay, Larry Millison and David Sayre.

In 1980, following the election of Del. Roy Dyson to the United States Congress, Parlett was selected by a 4-3 vote by the Democratic Central Committee to fill the balance of Dyson’s unexpired term in the Maryland General Assembly.

Parlett won election to the House on his own in 1982 before retiring in 1986. Parlett went on to devote his time to displaying a large farm and garden tractor collection at his Mechanicsville farm, building the collection into a sizeable museum with a large annual showing. Parlett was an heir to the Pargas fortune.

His son, John Knight Parlett Jr. was an elected member of the St. Mary’s School Board for one term.