Former Ole Miss Football Offensive Coordinator Red Parker Passes Away

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletic Department

Parker, who coached 62 years and won 322 games at the high school and collegiate football levels, joined Brewer’s staff in December of 1987 after serving the previous six years as head football coach at Delta State University.

During his four years with Ole Miss, Parker helped lead the Rebels to a pair of bowl games – the 1989 Liberty Bowl and the 1991 Gator Bowl.  The 1989 squad finished 8-4, while the 1990 team went 9-3.

“I thought the world of Red,” Brewer said.  “He had a great offensive mind and I knew he was the coach I wanted on that side of the ball.  He also did a great job of getting our kids to play hard.  Red was a little different in that he wouldn’t wear a head set on the sidelines.  Gunter (Brewer) was an offensive graduate assistant coach and he would listen when Red would shout out the call and then get our  personnel on the field.

“During his 62 years in the coaching profession, Red Parker touched a lot of lives.  He was a special guy who will be greatly missed by those who knew him.”

The Hampton, Arkansas, native began his coaching career at Fordyce (Ark.) High School in 1953 and his coaching experience also included a 127-107-8 record in 23 years as a head coach on the collegiate level.  He served as head coach five years at Arkansas-Monticello, seven years at The Citadel, four years at Clemson, one year at Southern Arkansas and six years at Delta State.

Parker returned to the Arkansas high school ranks for good in 1999, but announced his resignation as Harmony Grove High head coach on October 28, 2015, effective at the end of the 2015 season, citing health reasons.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Betty; his parents, Floyd and Madelyn Parker; a sister, Judy Wood; and a grandson, Logan Parker.

Parker is survived by two daughters, Vicki Wallace and Cindy Yoos (Herman) and a son, Jim Mack Parker (Robin).  He is also survived by six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

A celebration of Coach Parker’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, January 8, 2016 at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, 12400 Interstate 30, Little Rock, AR.  Interment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander, Arkansas with his grandchildren serving as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be any former and current coaches and players in attendance.

Visitation will be from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 7, 2016 at Roller-Ballard Funeral Home, 306 South Main Street, Benton, Arkansas.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports Information

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