He was a leader within the Massachusetts Republican Party, serving as its chair from 1967 to 1969 and leading the minority in the Senate from 1967 to 1989.

By his efforts the city council decided to make the position full-time.

[1] Parker desired to succeed Congressman Joseph William Martin Jr. in the U.S. House of Representatives, however Parker refused to oppose the elderly former Speaker in the Republican primary of 1968.

Martin was defeated in the primary by Governor’s Councilor Margaret Heckler effectively ending Parker's efforts of attaining higher office.

A middle school within the city is named in honor of his service to the city, and a section of U.S. Route 44 is named in honor of Parker and his wife, Mae, who had no children.