Passed Over for Its Top Job, Parnell to Quit USDA

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Jack Parnell, who was passed over when President Bush picked a new agriculture secretary, will resign effective May 1.

Parnell, 55, said he will return to the business world “to pursue many opportunities and interests that have been on hold.” Parnell was a businessman in California and held a series of posts in state government culminating in appointment as director of the Department of Food and Agriculture in 1987. He left that post to join the federal government in 1989.

“The advantage of having someone from California in the secretary or deputy secretary spot is direct knowledge of the diversity of California,” said Bob L. Vice, president of the California Farm Bureau Federation. “Someone like Jack Parnell has had an understanding of California agriculture. We’re going to miss that. We’re very disappointed that he’s leaving.”

There was no immediate word on who would succeed Parnell in the second-ranking post at the Agriculture Department.

Parnell’s resignation had been expected for weeks in some quarters out of a belief a top-ranking executive would probably not remain long when spurned for promotion. However, Parnell’s brief letter to Bush expressed only fond thoughts of his tenure and good wishes for Secretary Edward R. Madigan, who took office early this month.

Parnell has owned and operated Duniplace Angus Ranch, a 2,500-acre cattle and produce operation in Auburn, Calif., since 1956.