Dennis Parmer’s influence is evident at the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation.

The foundation is preparing to move into an 8,000-square-foot space at the redeveloped Imperial Market—an agreement he helped engineer with Johnson Development. Parmer said he looks forward to displaying the city’s history beyond the refinery.

“There’s a much bigger story here than Imperial,” he said.

Executive Director Dennis Parmer observes the organization’s office construction.[/caption]

Although not a native resident, Parmer has lived in the city for 34 years and is known throughout the community for his civic involvement. He served on Sugar Land City Council from 2003-09, during which time the Imperial Sugar refinery closed and residents often asked about the site’s future redevelopment.

“Being on City Council and this [being] in my district, I had the same questions,” he said. “I started saying, ‘Well, how do we preserve this?’”

He led the foundation’s formation in 2008 not only to tell the story of Imperial Sugar but also the heritage of Sugar Land from the 1800s to the present. He served as the president of the foundation’s board of directors from 2008-13 and became executive director in 2013.

“The birthplace of Texas was in this area,” Parmer said, referring to the region’s history as the first Texan home of 300 settlers brought by Stephen F. Austin in the 1820s.

Aside from the sugar refinery, Parmer wants to highlight Sugar Land’s heritage as a hub for farmers, railroads and immigrants. He said he wanted to use his passion for history to give back to the community.

“I’ve always thought public service was important,” he said.

Originally from Meridian, Mississippi, Parmer received bachelor’s degrees in math and computer science from Mississippi State University. His work for Shell Oil Co. brought him to Fort Bend County.

“My wife and I consider this absolutely home,” he said. “I’ve always liked it.”

Martin Nicholas, the foundation’s board president and Parmer’s pastor at Sugar Land Methodist Church, has known him for nearly 20 years and said he is impressed by his dedication to his work.

“I think his effort and energy are indispensable,” Nicholas said. “For someone to come into a community and his wealth of passion for heritage, you see that in a lot of people who have been here for generations.”

Former City Council Member Michael Schiff’s time in office from 2002-11 overlapped with Parmer’s. Schiff said Parmer is “one of the few people who you can trust what he says.”

“He’s a no-nonsense guy,” Schiff said. “He’s a passionate guy and is willing to put his time and effort into things he cares about.”

Parmer said he has known Sugar Land City Council Member Amy Mitchell for a decade and advised her when she ran for office. Mitchell described him as “intelligent, enthusiastic and conscientious.”

“I think the world of him,” she said. “He thinks extremely highly of this community.”

Parmer has since left the oil industry but said he could think of nowhere else he and his wife, Becky, would rather live.

“There is truly a ‘we can do it’ mentality here,” he said. “If it’s worth doing it, then we’re going to try our best to do it well.”