Red Oak native inducted in Parsons Wall of Honor

The Third Annual Parsons College Wall of Honor induction ceremony has recognized  Douglas Billings, a graduate of Red Oak High School and a nationally and internationally known executive and entrepreneur in the hotel and hospitality industry. He was inducted during ceremonies on Oct. 8.

Billings’ achievments inc-lude serving as president of his senior class in Red Oak High School, president of Sigma PhiEpsilon fraternity and the Inter-Fraternity Council at Parsons College, a Preceptor in the History and Political Science Departments at Parsons, admissions recruiter at the Parsons Pershing College satellite school, and serving in the U.S. Army. He was also the youngest person appointed by the governor of Iowa to be a Commissioner of the Iowa Development Commission.

In 1984, he was elected to the board of directors for the International Association of Holiday Inns. He became president of a hotel and hospitality development company in 1986 and in 1989, was asked to join The Resolution Trust Corpor-ation as spokesperson for the government.

Billings worked in executive levels for various leading hotel investment and development groups before  organizing a hotel managment company and a company purchasing hotel and hospitality products for investment groups in the U.S. and Europe.

Currently, Billings is acting as receiver for court supervised properties representing banks, corporate and individual sellers.

Billings resides with his wife, Annette in Murrells Inlet, S.C. Together they have two daughters.