Kathleen Parker's remarkable journey, beginning as a librarian earning 50 cents an hour, concluded in over four decades of service to the Foley Public Library. Recognizing her enduring commitment, the City Council presented Parker with a proclamation commemorating her invaluable contributions to the library and the citizens of Foley.

Parker's tenure on the Foley Library Advisory Board spanned from 1971 until her recent retirement in 2024. Mayor Ralph Hellmich commended Parker's pivotal role in the library's evolution, from its humble origins at the corner of McKenzie Street and Laurel Avenue to the current two-story facility, presently undergoing replacement with an even larger center.

“That’s an incredible time for serving on anything, but on a library board. You helped build the one that’s over there and then oversaw an expansion. Now, you’ve seen laying the groundwork for yet another vision being fulfilled,” Hellmich said. “I can’t tell you how much the council appreciates the service that you’ve given to Foley.”

Expressing her gratitude, Parker said she was honored to serve patrons over the years.

“It’s been a joy and a privilege,” she said. “I have loved every minute of it, the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s been all that, but it’s been, overall, outstanding and wonderful. The library will continue to grow and expand and mean so much to this entire area, especially to our young people. So, thank you for the privilege of serving these many years.”

Parker's involvement with the library dates back to her membership in the Foley Civic League, which donated $1,000 in 1958 to support library renovations at its former location, an expansion of a building constructed in the 1920s, now serving as the Foley Welcome Center.

In 1978, Parker assumed leadership of the "new special Building Committee," laying the groundwork for the construction of a new library building at its current location, later expanded with a second floor.

Currently, library supporters and city officials are collaborating on plans for a new library and community center near the Foley Dog Park, with construction slated to begin later in 2024.