Robert J. Parins

Robert James Parins (August 23, 1918 – May 26, 2017) was an American judge and the president of the Green Bay Packers, an American professional football team, from 1982 to 1989.

Robert J. Parins
Born
Robert James Parins

(1918-08-23)August 23, 1918
Green Bay, Wisconsin
DiedMay 26, 2017(2017-05-26) (aged 98)
Hobart, Wisconsin
OccupationJudge
Known forPresident of the Green Bay Packers (1982-1989)

Early life

Born on August 23, 1918 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Parins graduated from Green Bay East High School in 1936. He received a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1940.

Parins served as Brown County, Wisconsin Circuit Court judge from 1968 to 1982.[1] He served as a reserve judge for the Wisconsin circuit courts in District 7.[2]

In 1994[3] the judge ruled police officers Joseph T. Gabrish and John Balcerzak reinstated because their dismissals were too harsh. Additionally, they were rewarded around $55,000 as back pay.

The officers were originally dismissed for returning Konerak Sinthasomphone, who was a 14-year-old Laotian boy, to the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer on May 27, 1991. Sinthasomphone was reported missing the prior day. He had escaped Dahmer and was found naked, drugged, and with anal bleeding by Nichole Childress and Sandra Smith, two young black women. The women called police and four officers showed up, two being Garish and Balcerzak. The officers threatened to arrest Childress and Smith if they persisted in trying to help Sinthasomphone or to provide information.[4] The officers escorted Sinthasomphone back inside Dahmer's apartment where Dahmer later killed him. At the time, Dahmer was a known registered sex offender and on probation for sexually fondling Somsack Sinthasomphone (Konerak's older brother) years earlier. Sinthasomphone became Dahmer's 13th rape and murder victim.

Judge Parins was appointed to hear the case by the director of state courts because he was not from Milwaukee County. Judge Parins said, "It is shocking to one's sense of fairness," of the dismissals and Garish and Balcerzak should have been suspended for 60 days at most.

The records of conversation between dispatch, the officers, and witnesses conveyed racism and homophobia by police, which demonstrated bad judgment and led to the death of Sinthasomphone[5] and the reason Garish and Balcerzak were fired. Despite repeated statements to police that Sinthasomphone was underage, police did not bother to investigate any available information.

Green Bay Packers

After being a vice-president in the Green Bay Packers organization,[6] Parins was named the team's president on May 31, 1982, succeeding Dominic Olejniczak.[7] He was the teams' first full-time president[7] and served until he retired on June 5, 1989 after being succeeded by Bob Harlan.[7] While Parins was president, the Packers' record was 43-61-2.[8] Parins was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1998.[9]

Tenure

During Parins' tenure, the team's most notable activities were:

  • The Packers made the playoffs in 1982, their first appearance since 1972.[7]
  • In 1983, coach Bart Starr was released and replaced by Forrest Gregg.[7]
  • The Packers built 72 private box seats in 1985, increasing their stadium's capacity to 56,926.[7]
  • Green Bay Packers Foundation was created in 1986 to distribute funds to area charities.[10]
  • The Packers increased their profit from $2 million in 1986 and to $3 million the following year.[7]
  • Forest Gregg resigned as head coach in 1988 and was replaced by Lindy Infante.[7]

Personal life

Parins died on May 26, 2017 in Hobart, Wisconsin at the age of 98.[11][12]

References
  1. Christl, Cliff. "Judge Robert J. Parins". Green Bay Packers. Archived from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  2. "FindLaw-Balcerkzak v. City of Milwaukee". Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  3. "Victory for Two in Dahmer Case". The New York Times. April 28, 1994. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  4. "The Estate Of Konerak Sinthasomphone v. The City of Milwaukee". United States District Court. March 5, 1992. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  5. Worthington, Rogers (August 2, 1991). "Could Police Have Saved Young Victim? -- 911 Tapes Show Officers Were In Dahmer's Place, Left Teen To Fate". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 18, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  6. "Packers Shuffle Top Management". The New York Times. October 12, 1981. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 18, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  7. "Packers Chrnonology". Green Bay Packers. Archived from the original on January 3, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  8. Looney, Douglas S. (August 28, 1989). "Shake-up In Title Town". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  9. "Judge Robert J. Parins". Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. 1998. Archived from the original on August 18, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  10. "Green Bay Packers Foundation". Green Bay Packers, Inc. 2018. Archived from the original on August 8, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  11. Chiari, Mike (May 27, 2017). "Former Packers President Judge Robert J. Parins Dies at Age 98". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on May 28, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  12. Christl, Cliff (May 27, 2017). "Judge Robert J. Parins set stage for Packers' success". Green Bay Packers. Archived from the original on May 28, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
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