America's Cup- 1987 Defence Head dies after car crash

by Perthnow.com and Sail-World on 27 Nov 2010 Perthnow.com reports that Kevin Parry, the man who backed Australia's defence of the 1987 America's Cup in Fremantle, has died after a car rollover in Bullsbrook on Friday.

Police said the 77-year-old Bullsbrook man was only kilometres away from his home when his Toyota Prado rolled on Warbrook Rd at about 4.20pm.

He died as a result of injuries from the crash.

A former multi-millionaire businessman, Mr Parry was best known for his role in the 1987 America’s Cup, where his Kookaburra III yacht earned the right to defend the prestigious yachting trophy ahead of Alan Bond. His crew, also representing the Royal Perth Yacht Club were led by skipper Iain Murray, currently Regatta Director for the 34th America's Cup, with now World Match Racing Tour director, Peter Gilmour, as helmsman.

A former baseballer, Mr Parry established the Perth Heat franchise and funded WA’s first major baseball stadium, Parry Field, in Belmont.

He also spearheaded the Parry Corporation Group, which included Parry’s Department Stores, and helped set up the Scitech Discovery Centre in West Perth.

Fremantle Yacht Club commodore Gary Martin described Mr Parry’s loss as 'a sad day for yachting'.

'It’s very unfortunate for the yachting community of Western Australia, because Kevin Parry did so much for local yachting over a number of years,' he said.

'It certainly is a tragic loss.

'His contribution brought a lot of West Australians into the America’s Cup – it exposed so many more talented sailors that wouldn’t have got a Guernsey with the Bond team.'

For the rest of this story http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/americas-cup-backer-wa-business-icon-kevin-parry-dead/story-e6frg13u-1225961968628!click_here