Ben Parra was a self-made man. Born in 1923 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Ben came to the Sacramento area with his mother and brother at a young age. After a few years, his brother moved them to be close to extended family in Lincoln, where Ben lived for over 70 years.
Ben attended Lincoln High School and became involved in the music department, playing the trumpet and developing a lifelong passion. Upon graduating, he proudly served his country as a member of the Navy. After being discharged, he went to work at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento where he worked until his retirement. Education was always important to Ben and in his early twenties, he went back to school and earned his associate degree at Sierra College.
In planning his estate, Ben left a generous gift of education in the form of college scholarships for Latinx students from Lincoln. With this gift, other Latinxs will have the opportunity for independence and a successful future. The Ben Parra Scholarship Fund will serve as a permanent legacy for a man who believed in the power of hard work and commitment.