Roland Parrish will receive the prestigious 2026 Oak Cliff Lions Club Bill Melton Humanitarian Award on April 22, 2026. The award ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. in Hitt Auditorium at Methodist Hospital Dallas, located at 1441 N. Beckley Avenue. This honor recognizes Parrish’s extensive contributions to the Dallas community, particularly in initiatives supporting youth education and welfare.
A prominent figure in the community, Parrish was named the 2024 Linz Award Winner for his dedication to philanthropic efforts. His initiatives include the annual “McMiracle on Highway 67 Christmas Bike Giveaway,” the Roland Parrish Band Competition, and the Parrish Foundation Invitational Scholarship Debate. Additionally, he established the Parrish Restaurants Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame, further cementing his commitment to local youth and education.
Beyond these projects, Parrish has initiated scholarships at multiple high schools, including South Oak Cliff, Spruce, DeSoto, Duncanville, Skyline, and St. Philip’s School. He has also been instrumental in supporting St. Mark’s School of Texas in their fundraising efforts aimed at feeding the homeless at the Austin Street Center.
Through his Parrish Charitable Foundation, he is sponsoring a four-year, $250,000 fellowship with the Texas Rangers Baseball Club for the Charlie Pride internship, a program named after the late country music icon and first Black superstar in the genre. The Foundation is also responsible for building and supporting a medical clinic in Fort Portal, Uganda, which serves approximately 6,000 orphans annually.
“I believe in providing educational opportunities,” Parrish stated. “The gift that keeps on giving. If I can assist a student with attaining a degree or skill, so that they can live the American Dream; then hopefully they will reach out and pull someone else forward.”
In 2023, the Dallas Park and Recreation Board honored Parrish by naming a new park in the Cadillac Heights community as Roland G. Parrish Park. This recognition reflects his longstanding philanthropic spirit and dedication to improving the lives of Dallas residents.
Parrish made history as the only Chairman and CEO of the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association to serve three consecutive terms. During this time, he established the NBMOA Foundation to raise scholarship funds for students. His influence extends to various boards and committees, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater North Texas, NBA Dallas Mavericks, MLB – Texas Rangers Foundation, Oncor Foundation, and the Communities Foundation of Texas.
The Oak Cliff Lions Humanitarian Award was first established in 1978, with former Dallas Cowboys Coach Tom Landry as its inaugural recipient. The award was renamed in 2010 to honor its Founding President and former Dallas County Treasurer Bill Melton. This year marks the 47th presentation of the award.
The Oak Cliff Lions Club, organized and chartered in April 1929, has a rich history of supporting various local, state, national, and international charities focused on youth, vision, and other worthy causes. It is estimated that the club has contributed over $1.5 million to charitable efforts through the dedication of its members.
Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. on April 22, with the awards program commencing promptly at 12:00 noon. The event is complimentary for members of the Oak Cliff Lions Club, while guests will be charged $20 for lunch. Complimentary valet parking will be available on-site, and reservations can be made at oakclifflions.org. Ted Ferguson serves as the President of the Oak Cliff Lions Club, while Lion Teri Bailey chairs the Humanitarian Award Committee.
For more information about the Oak Cliff Lions Club and the event, please visit oakclifflions.org.
