SUU to Dental Practice Owner

Larry Parker (’95) began his college career at SUU as a theatre arts major, and even, in addition, had aspirations of one day working for the forest service. But a change in major to biology set Larry on a path that has led him to Minnesota, where he is now the owner of his own dental practice specializing in general dentistry and orthodontics.

He attended South Sevier High in Monroe, Utah, and Cedar City High School before enrolling at SUU in the fall of 1990. But before Larry stepped on campus, he had his doubts about SUU and wondered about the quality of education he would receive here. He even saw SUU as his “backup plan.”

“I was wrong,” he now says. “I came to realize that learning in a small class atmosphere at bargain tuition is truly priceless. It was an experience that I did not fully understand nor appreciate until I moved to a metropolitan area, attended a large learning institution, and became a number instead of a person.”

Among his many highlights as an SUU student was reinforcing life-long friendships with people like Stewart Clarke (’95), Shon Wilson (’98), and Daniel Cotts (’93), as well as forging new relationships with Darris Clark, Ben Baldwin (’95), and Regan Wilson (’96). Those relationships alone, (thanks in part to Sigma Chi) cause Larry to call himself blessed for making his way to SUU.

He is also grateful to SUU for showing him new ideas and different ways of thinking.

“I was able to be exposed to thinking and ideas that were different and directly in conflict with my own, forcing me to grow as a person as well as a student,” he explains.

To those currently attending SUU, Larry encourages spending plenty of time enjoying clubs and organizations.

“Go out of your comfort zone and experience different viewpoints on life,” he says. “You should also Go Greek, even if ‘it’s not my thing.’”

Larry also met his wife, Shannon Bennett (’98), at SUU and credits her for seeing potential in him what he could not see himself, and refusing to allow him to be satisfied with mediocrity.

“I owe everything to her,” he says.

The couple resides in Mankato, Minnesota, and has three kids, Jordan age 20 (and a sophomore at SUU), Jack age 10, and Sammy age 8.

When not working on teeth, Larry enjoys traveling, scuba diving, snorkeling, golfing, and running marathons with his family.