Dave Parks

David Wayne Parks (December 25, 1941 – August 8, 2019)^[1] was an American professional football wide receiver and tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He was the first overall selection in the 1964 NFL draft out of Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University). Parks was selected to three Pro Bowls, and was an All-Pro selection two times. In 1965 he captured the "triple crown" of receiving, leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. In 2008 Parks was selected to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Career

High school

Parks attended Abilene High School (Abilene, Texas) and played for head coach Chuck Moser.^[2]

College

Parks played at the college level for the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 1961–1963.^[3] While at Texas Tech, Parks set several school records and earned many accolades. During his junior season in 1962, Parks was named an All-Southwest Conference selection.

Following his final season in 1963, Parks became the first player in Texas Tech history to be named an Associated Press All-American,^[4] and also earned selections from Sporting News, Time, Boston Recorder-American, Sports Extra, the American Football Coaches Association, and Football Weekly.^[3] Additionally, Parks received invitations to the East West Shrine Game, the Senior Bowl, and the Coaches All-America Game.

Upon his graduation, Parks held the school records for career receptions (80), single-season receptions (32), single game receptions (8 vs. Kansas State in 1963), and single game receiving yards (132 vs Kansas State in 1963).^[3] His record for longest interception return of 98 yards that occurred during a 1962 game versus Colorado still remains a school record.^[5]

Parks was one of only five Texas Tech players to have their jerseys retired and along with E.J. Holub, Donny Anderson, Gabe Rivera, and Zach Thomas. He was named to the inaugural class of the Texas Tech Ring of Honor, which honors the players by engraving their names into a ring around Jones AT&T Stadium, and has been the only Red Raider selected as the 1st overall pick of the NFL Draft.^[6]

Parks was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, joining fellow Red Raiders Donny Anderson, Hub Bechtol, E. J. Holub, and Gabriel Rivera.^[7] Parks was also inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.^[4]

NFL

Parks was the first overall selection of the 1964 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers.^[8] He was one of only three people to be drafted No. 1 as a wide receiver, alongside Irving Fryar in 1984 and Keyshawn Johnson in 1996. Six games into his rookie season, Parks set a franchise record for longest reception with an 83-yard catch, followed by the team's second longest reception, an 80-yarder, a week later. Both records stood for 13 years.^[9] In 1965, he achieved the receiving triple crown, leading the National Football League in receptions with 80, receiving yards with 1,344, and receiving touchdowns with 12. For his performance, he was selected to the 1965 Pro Bowl and was named to the 1965 All-Pro Team. He was named to the 1966 All-Pro Team and went on to attend the 1966 Pro Bowl and the 1967 Pro Bowl.

After playing his option year with the 49ers in 1967, Parks signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints in 1968. In the second of only four times the NFL exercised the Rozelle rule, the 49ers received Kevin Hardy and a 1969 first-round selection (7th overall–Ted Kwalick) as compensation.^[10][11] He spent five seasons with the Saints.

In 1973, he played for the Houston Oilers, and retired after the season.^[9] He ended his career with 360 receptions, 5,619 receiving yards, a 15.6 average, and 44 touchdowns.^[12]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Personal life

He lived in Austin, Texas, and served as the associate director of the Texas Ranger Law Enforcement Organization. Parks would go on to invent the 'Speedy Weedy', a lawn and garden tool.^[1] Parks died on August 7, 2019, aged 77.^[13][14]

References

1. ^ "Dave Parks -Member Biography". National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
2. ^ Waller, Sam (July 11, 2009). "Former AHS standout Parks to be inducted in college hall". Abilene Reporter-News. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
3. ^ "Parks Voted into Hall of Fame". Texas Tech University. May 1, 2008. Archived February 3, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
4. ^ "Dave Parks Set For Induction Into The Texas Sports Hall Of Fame". Texas Tech University. January 12, 2012. Archived February 3, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
5. ^ Kosmider, Nick (July 5, 2012). "Catching up with Tech great Dave Parks". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Archived 18 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
6. ^ "Donny Anderson, E.J. Holub and Dave Parks First To Enter Ring of Honor". Texas Tech University. August 31, 2012. Archived February 3, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
7. ^ "College Football Hall of Fame". Award Winners and All-Americans. National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 23. Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
8. ^ "1964 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
9. ^ Hession, Joseph (1985). Forty Niners: Looking Back. Foghorn Press. ISBN 978-0935701494.
10. ^ Mackey v. National Football League, 407 F. Supp. 1000 (D. Minn. 1975) – Justia.com. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
11. ^ 1969 NFL Draft Pick Transactions, January 28 (Rounds 1–12) & 29 (Rounds 13–17) – Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
12. ^ "Dave Parks Stats - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived 23 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
13. ^ "College Football Hall of Famer Dave Parks Passes Away". National Football Foundation. August 9, 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
14. ^ Williams, Don (August 8, 2019). "Tech star Dave Parks, three-time All-Pro, dies at 77". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved August 9, 2019.