Rex Parsons
PARSONS, Rex, OBE (1894-1961)
Rex Parsons was born in Adelaide and studied engineering at the SA School of Mines and Industries and the University of Adelaide from which he received his bachelors degree (1914). Following one year as a cadet with the Adelaide Electric Supply Company he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, serving with the Royal Australian Engineers in the Australian Mounted Division in Palestine and Syria during WW2.
After the war Parsons worked with the British Thomson-Houston Coy at Rugby and for a short period with GEC, New York State. Back in Australia in 1921 he was appointed head of the Electrical Engineering Dept at the SA School of Mines and Industries. He obtained his Masters degree in 1926.
After a sabbatical working on the Central England section of the British Electricity Grid, Parsons was appointed Principal of the SA School of Mines and Industries in 1940.
Parsons was Chairman of the SA Division of the Institution of Engineers Australia in 1943 and President of the Institution in 1955. He was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1953 for his services to technical education. He was added to the Engineers Australia South Australian Hall of Fame in 2006.
He is remembered by many for his frugal management and his leadership in matters related to technical colleges and the training of engineers.
