Texas self-storage developer Mike Parham dies

Longtime self-storage developer Mike Parham of Bulverde, TX, died Nov. 18 after suffering a heart attack. He was 59.

A memorial service for Mr. Parham is scheduled for 3 p.m. Nov. 30 at Bulverde Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mr. Parham’s memory to the Wounded Warriors Project or the Boy Scouts of America. Survivors include his wife, Ann Parham; daughters Rachel and Rebecca Parham; and son David Parham.

‘A great educator’

Ginny Sutton, executive director of the Texas Self Storage Association, said Mr. Parham already was a longtime member of the association when she came aboard in 1997.

“Over the years, he taught more sessions and led more roundtable discussions than just about anyone in the industry,” Sutton told The SpareFoot Storage Beat. “In short, he was a great educator who seemed to love teaching people about his specialty — smart development.”

Mike was always willing to unselfishly share his industry knowledge with others.
— Self-storage consultant Jim Chiswell

Sutton said she last saw Mr. Parham at the Texas Self Storage Association’s annual conference in late October in Fort Worth, TX.

“Our staff members’ collective memories of Mike come down to this: He was always that exhibitor who was kind, encouraging and enthusiastic,” she said.

At the recent conference, “his usual happy smile was accompanied by words of praise for the association and personal kindnesses,” Sutton added. “He was a good man, and he will be missed.”

An industry leader

Self-storage consultant Jim Chiswell said he knew Mr. Parham for 30 years. During that time, he watched Mr. Parham and wife Ann build one of the most recognizable brands in the self-storage industry — The Parham Group.

Chiswell said he crossed paths with Mr. Parham at various self-storage trade shows and conferences.

“Mike was always willing to unselfishly share his industry knowledge with others,” Chiswell told The SpareFoot Storage Beat. “Mike is the type of industry leader who can only be remembered, but never replaced.”

Long career in self-storage

Mr. Parham’s career in the self-storage industry dated back to the early 1980s. In 1980, he retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and started working for ISC Properties, a construction firm in Dallas. From 1981 to 1983, Mr. Parham was president of an ISC subsidiary whose projects included two self-storage facilities.

In 1983, Mr. Parham left ISC Properties to become vice president of Hendry Investments, a real estate developer in San Antonio. At Hendry, his projects included seven self-storage facilities.

Mr. Parham founded National Development Services in 1987. During Mr. Parham’s tenure, the company designed and built more than 150 self-storage facilities for customers such as Public Storage, Shurgard, Storage USA and Security Storage.

Mr. Parham also invested in self-storage facilities. His Noah’s Ark Self Storage chain operates nine storage facilities in Florida and Texas. Furthermore, Mr. Parham provided self-storage consulting, development and management services.

Mr. Parham graduated in 1974 from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX, with a bachelor’s degree in forest management and engineering. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1974 to 1980, earning the rank of captain in 1978.