Gary Parris
Encyclopedia
Gary Thomas Parris is a former professional American football
tight end
. He played for three different teams from 1973–1980, including the San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, and St. Louis (Arizona) Cardinals.
Gary Parris was born June 13, 1950, in East St. Louis, Illinois. He later moved to Vero Beach, Florida. He attended Vero Beach High School
, where he got his start in his American football career, earning the Indian River County Athlete of the Century Award. Parris graduated from Vero Beach High School
, in 1969, and went on to play at Florida State University
. He married his high school sweetheart, Bobbie Adkins in 1969, and gave birth to four children, son, Matthew Norman (born June 6, 1971), son Gary Thomas (G.T.), Jr., and daughters, Kelly and Heather. He currently resides in Vero Beach, FL, with his wife, Bobbie.
Parris was also involved in politics. He served on the Vero Beach City Council from 1984–1986, and recently ran for the Indian River County, Florida
Commission District 3 seat in 2008, and lost to incumbent Gary C. Wheeler.
Parris has served as president on several local committees and organizations including Indian River County Little League, Fighting Indians Football Booster Club, Fighting Indians Baseball Booster Club, the March of Dimes Fundraising Committee, and was former Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 515, and District Chairman for Boy Scouts of America Indian River District of the Gulf Stream Council. Parris has also served as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Vero Beach.
Parris served in the U.S. Army National Guard for 6 years. He is an Eagle Scout
Currently, Parris is employed as a citrus and produce broker with Sunny Fresh Citrus. He also voices the football and basketball games for the Vero Beach High School Fighting Indians on Christian FM (WSCF 91.9 FM Vero Beach, 96.3 FM Port St. Lucie) with his sons G.T. and Matt. Gary is also an announcer for the University of Central Florida Golden Knights football team.
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...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
. He played for three different teams from 1973–1980, including the San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, and St. Louis (Arizona) Cardinals.
Gary Parris was born June 13, 1950, in East St. Louis, Illinois. He later moved to Vero Beach, Florida. He attended Vero Beach High School
Vero Beach High School
Vero Beach High School is located in Vero Beach, Florida, the county seat of Indian River County. Founded in 1925 , VBHS is a large, comprehensive high school, located on Florida’s east coast. The high school serves 2,675 students in grades 9-12 who reside in the southern portion of Indian River...
, where he got his start in his American football career, earning the Indian River County Athlete of the Century Award. Parris graduated from Vero Beach High School
Vero Beach High School
Vero Beach High School is located in Vero Beach, Florida, the county seat of Indian River County. Founded in 1925 , VBHS is a large, comprehensive high school, located on Florida’s east coast. The high school serves 2,675 students in grades 9-12 who reside in the southern portion of Indian River...
, in 1969, and went on to play at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. He married his high school sweetheart, Bobbie Adkins in 1969, and gave birth to four children, son, Matthew Norman (born June 6, 1971), son Gary Thomas (G.T.), Jr., and daughters, Kelly and Heather. He currently resides in Vero Beach, FL, with his wife, Bobbie.
Parris was also involved in politics. He served on the Vero Beach City Council from 1984–1986, and recently ran for the Indian River County, Florida
Indian River County, Florida
Indian River County is a county located in the Treasure Coast region in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 112,947. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 128,594...
Commission District 3 seat in 2008, and lost to incumbent Gary C. Wheeler.
Parris has served as president on several local committees and organizations including Indian River County Little League, Fighting Indians Football Booster Club, Fighting Indians Baseball Booster Club, the March of Dimes Fundraising Committee, and was former Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 515, and District Chairman for Boy Scouts of America Indian River District of the Gulf Stream Council. Parris has also served as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Vero Beach.
Parris served in the U.S. Army National Guard for 6 years. He is an Eagle Scout
Currently, Parris is employed as a citrus and produce broker with Sunny Fresh Citrus. He also voices the football and basketball games for the Vero Beach High School Fighting Indians on Christian FM (WSCF 91.9 FM Vero Beach, 96.3 FM Port St. Lucie) with his sons G.T. and Matt. Gary is also an announcer for the University of Central Florida Golden Knights football team.