Michael “Mick” V. Parrott
March 2 1940 – March 29, 2026
Michael Verne Parrott, 86, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, died Sunday, March 29, 2026. Born March 2, 1940, in Marshall, MN, he was the eldest son of Robert Belgrove and Paula Verne Parrott, also of Fort Wayne. A 1958 graduate of Southside High School, Parrott earned his BA from Carleton College and MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He was an officer in the US Air Force and was awarded the American Spirit of Honor Medal in 1964, completing his service at the 122nd Tactical Fighter Wing of the Indiana National Guard.
“Mick” Parrott began his business career in the 1960s with Inland Steel in Chicago and later moved to Fort Wayne with ESSEX International. He served as President of Dunbar Furniture in Berne, IN, in 1974, and returned to Fort Wayne in 1980 to acquire Customcraft, Inc. and establish ICON International which consisted of 3 companies – Icon Exhibits, Plasticworks and Displaysource. Mick infused ICON with his passion for architecture, design, quality, and efficiency, growing it into a market leader in the events industry and pioneering the development of the United States’ first modular aluminum exhibit systems for trade shows, museums, and science centers. The demand for these specialized products prompted Mick to launch Highmark TechSystems in 1996 to serve a wider range of indoor and outdoor events. Additionally, he merged ICON with Delphi Productions to create Group Delphi, where he served as Chairman until 2020. During this period, Mick also served on the Board of Directors of Grange Insurance Companies in Columbus, OH, and served as Board Chairman from 2007 to 2013. Mick was honored as Indiana Entrepreneur of the Year in 1997 and received the exhibit industry’s highest accolade, the Hazel Hays Award, in 2016.
An active member of the Fort Wayne community, Parrott served on numerous boards, was Chairman of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, President of Quest Club, and the Business Forum. Mick was one of the founders of Canterbury School, where he served on its Board of Trustees, chaired its Foundation and Capital Campaign, and held various committee leadership roles. A strong believer in the value of rigorous traditional education, Mick was a vocal advocate for K-12 educational excellence.
Mick was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Paula Parrott, and his brothers Christopher and Stephen Parrott. Mick’s wife of 55 years, Kathryn Parrott, passed away in 2018. They are survived by their three daughters–Jennifer Robinson, Deborah Parrott, and Lesleigh Mitchell—and seven grandchildren. In addition, because their siblings predeceased them, Mick and Kathy maintained close ties with an extended family that includes eight nieces and nephews and their families.
Mick’s family remembers him as a loving and generous father, grandfather, and uncle who was an avid skier, an ardent sailor, and a tireless worker. He loved opera, writing, reading, storytelling, traveling, and hosting gatherings at his Lake Michigan home. He cherished his family, friends, and country, living his life by the Golden Rule. Parrott will be remembered as a visionary entrepreneur, a passionate and principled business leader and community supporter, the patriarch of a large and accomplished family, and a lifelong Christian soldier.
Arrangements are being handled by Dignity Memorial. On Saturday, April 18, a 9 am calling and 11 am service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, where Mick will be laid to rest in Trinity’s columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Canterbury School Foundation-Parrott Family Foundation, Canterbury School Foundation-Chapel Speaker Series, and Trinity Episcopal Church.
submitted by Highmark TechSystems
