Dave Parks
Encyclopedia
David Wayne Parks is a former American football
wide receiver
in the 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. In 2008 Parks was selected to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame
along with twelve other players and two coaches. Among the class of 2008 are such notables as Lou Holtz
, Troy Aikman
, Jay Novacek
, and Thurman Thomas.
The former Texas Tech All-American and top pick in the 1964 NFL draft was selected for induction to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame on Thursday during a televised press conference by the NFF on ESPNNEWS. He joins E.J. Holub and Donny Anderson as former Red Raiders previously enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
"Dave Parks is one of our greatest football players," Texas Tech Director of Athletics Gerald Myers said. "He's been successful at all levels and was one of our early All-Americans. We're proud of the things Dave accomplished in football and we are pleased and excited he's been voted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. This is great recognition for Texas Tech and an honor well-deserved for one of our former greats."
Parks left his mark on the Red Raiders program, holding records in career receptions (80, 1962) and single-season receptions (32, 1962 and 1963). He also set marks in single-game receptions (8 vs. Kansas State, 1963), single-game receiving yards (132 vs. Kansas State, 1963). During his junior season in 1962, the Abilene, Texas, native was an All-Southwest Conference selection, was named team most valuable player and Best Tech Lineman.
During his career at Texas Tech, Parks' play never waned, no matter the circumstances - even in triple coverage during his All-American senior season, in which he played with a broken wrist. Known for his offensive talents, Parks also displayed a prowess on defense, which was evidenced by his 98-yard interception return, sealing a 13-12 win over Colorado in 1963.
Media and opposing coaches alike watched in awe as Parks dismantled opposing defenses every Saturday. Former Fort Worth Star-Telegram sports writer Jim Trinkle described a play against Texas A&M where "two Aggies were running side-by-side with the brilliant Parks, but he made a diving catch across the goal, did a somersault, and leaped up with the ball high over his head." A TCU coach scouting the game said, "That was the finest catch I've ever seen."
The first player in school history to be named an Associated Press First Team All-American, Parks joined the likes of Roger Staubach, Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers on the prestigious All-America squad following his senior season in 1963. He also raked in consensus honors as a split end by The Sporting News, Boston Recorder-American, Sports Extra, American Football Coaches, Time Magazine and Football Weekly.
The honors continued to pour in as Parks was rewarded for his play during his senior season with invitations to the East-West Shrine Game, the Senior Bowl, the Coaches All-America Game, and was named to the Chicago Tribune's All-Stars. Playing for the West in the Shrine Game, Parks blocked the game-winning extra point attempt by the East. In the Senior Bowl, he hauled in a George Mira touchdown pass to preserve the South's 20-12 victory.
Park's NFL career spanned 10 years with San Francisco (1964–67), New Orleans (1968–72) and Houston (1973). He was named to the All-Pro Rookie Team in 1964 and was an All-Pro selection in 1965 and 1966, playing in three-straight Pro Bowls.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was the first overall selection in the 1964 NFL Draft
1964 NFL Draft
The 1964 National Football League Draft took place on December 2, 1963.-Player selections:-Round one:* HOF Member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
out of Texas Technological College
History of Texas Tech University
The history of Texas Tech University dates back to the early 1880s, but the university was not established until 1923.-Establishment:The call to open a college in West Texas began shortly after the arrival of settlers in the area in the 1880s. In 1917, the Texas legislature passed a bill creating a...
(now Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
). Parks was selected to three Pro Bowls. In 2008 Parks was selected to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
along with twelve other players and two coaches. Among the class of 2008 are such notables as Lou Holtz
Lou Holtz
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
, Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
, Jay Novacek
Jay Novacek
Jay McKinley Novacek is a former American football tight end in the National Football League who played for the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys . Novacek was a five-time Pro Bowler, who was selected to play each year from 1991 through 1995...
, and Thurman Thomas.
The former Texas Tech All-American and top pick in the 1964 NFL draft was selected for induction to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame on Thursday during a televised press conference by the NFF on ESPNNEWS. He joins E.J. Holub and Donny Anderson as former Red Raiders previously enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
"Dave Parks is one of our greatest football players," Texas Tech Director of Athletics Gerald Myers said. "He's been successful at all levels and was one of our early All-Americans. We're proud of the things Dave accomplished in football and we are pleased and excited he's been voted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. This is great recognition for Texas Tech and an honor well-deserved for one of our former greats."
Parks left his mark on the Red Raiders program, holding records in career receptions (80, 1962) and single-season receptions (32, 1962 and 1963). He also set marks in single-game receptions (8 vs. Kansas State, 1963), single-game receiving yards (132 vs. Kansas State, 1963). During his junior season in 1962, the Abilene, Texas, native was an All-Southwest Conference selection, was named team most valuable player and Best Tech Lineman.
During his career at Texas Tech, Parks' play never waned, no matter the circumstances - even in triple coverage during his All-American senior season, in which he played with a broken wrist. Known for his offensive talents, Parks also displayed a prowess on defense, which was evidenced by his 98-yard interception return, sealing a 13-12 win over Colorado in 1963.
Media and opposing coaches alike watched in awe as Parks dismantled opposing defenses every Saturday. Former Fort Worth Star-Telegram sports writer Jim Trinkle described a play against Texas A&M where "two Aggies were running side-by-side with the brilliant Parks, but he made a diving catch across the goal, did a somersault, and leaped up with the ball high over his head." A TCU coach scouting the game said, "That was the finest catch I've ever seen."
The first player in school history to be named an Associated Press First Team All-American, Parks joined the likes of Roger Staubach, Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers on the prestigious All-America squad following his senior season in 1963. He also raked in consensus honors as a split end by The Sporting News, Boston Recorder-American, Sports Extra, American Football Coaches, Time Magazine and Football Weekly.
The honors continued to pour in as Parks was rewarded for his play during his senior season with invitations to the East-West Shrine Game, the Senior Bowl, the Coaches All-America Game, and was named to the Chicago Tribune's All-Stars. Playing for the West in the Shrine Game, Parks blocked the game-winning extra point attempt by the East. In the Senior Bowl, he hauled in a George Mira touchdown pass to preserve the South's 20-12 victory.
Park's NFL career spanned 10 years with San Francisco (1964–67), New Orleans (1968–72) and Houston (1973). He was named to the All-Pro Rookie Team in 1964 and was an All-Pro selection in 1965 and 1966, playing in three-straight Pro Bowls.