MM US MERCHANT MARNE
WORLD WAR II
James Byston Parks, Sr., age 79, died on Sunday, December 30, 2001, in San Antonio, Texas.
He was born on June 5, 1922, in Three Rivers, Texas.
His inimitable sense of humor touched everyone he met...from the gas station clerk, to the bank president; to the judge. He had an uncanny knack for one-liners. A while back, his son Jimmy Jr., Liz and Steve Vacek accompanied their dads to Las Vegas and he kept them in stitches, from the time they arrived at the airport until the plane touched down on its return to San Antonio.
His charismatic personality and infectious smile will stay indelibly etched in the memories of all who met him. He was truly unique.
After World War II, he entered the boxing world. He used his movie-star good looks and boyish charm to take him to the top of the business. He managed and trained two local fighters, Bobby Dykes and Jimmy Curl to world rankings, and had them ranked in the top five in the world in the same division at the same time. Ring Magazine reported that to be a first. During his tenure in Miami Beach he forged a strong relationship with Angelo Dundee, the eventual trainer of Muhammed Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard. Angelo worked for years by his side as a corner man. He managed and trained Dykes to World Title fights with both Surgar Ray Robinson and Kid Gavilan. In the 70's he managed heavy weight Terry Krueger to a top ten world ranking.
He eventually added judging and promoting to his repertoire, bringing George Foreman to San Antonio in one of his first professional fights; and showing many of Ali's greatest fights on live closed circuit television. When pay per view boxing replaced closed circuit shows, Richard Viscussi asked him to manage the gym at which Evander Holyfield trained.
His love for his family prevented him from leaving San Antonio. He elected instead to assist his boys, Brad and Jimmy, in their professional endeavors; stay close to his daughter, Sharon; and to attend every athletic event in which his grandchildren, Bo and Tina participated.
He, along with his wife Juanita, worked hard in the family office equipment business, in order to put their oldest son through law school.
All who knew him will sorely miss his ebullient wit. He took great pleasure in making us laugh. Life will never be quite as funny until we see him again.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and Calvin Parks and sister, Eloma Albright.
He is survived by his daughter, Sharon Kay Hatley and husband, Richard; sons, Brad Parks and Jimmy Parks, Jr. and wife, Liz; grandson, Bo Parks; granddaughter, Tina Allen and husband, James; great grandchildren, Brenden Parks, Faith Allen, and Makayla Allen. In addition to his children he is survived by his former wife, Juanita Parks and a sister, Louise Stendebach.
WORLD WAR II
James Byston Parks, Sr., age 79, died on Sunday, December 30, 2001, in San Antonio, Texas.
He was born on June 5, 1922, in Three Rivers, Texas.
His inimitable sense of humor touched everyone he met...from the gas station clerk, to the bank president; to the judge. He had an uncanny knack for one-liners. A while back, his son Jimmy Jr., Liz and Steve Vacek accompanied their dads to Las Vegas and he kept them in stitches, from the time they arrived at the airport until the plane touched down on its return to San Antonio.
His charismatic personality and infectious smile will stay indelibly etched in the memories of all who met him. He was truly unique.
After World War II, he entered the boxing world. He used his movie-star good looks and boyish charm to take him to the top of the business. He managed and trained two local fighters, Bobby Dykes and Jimmy Curl to world rankings, and had them ranked in the top five in the world in the same division at the same time. Ring Magazine reported that to be a first. During his tenure in Miami Beach he forged a strong relationship with Angelo Dundee, the eventual trainer of Muhammed Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard. Angelo worked for years by his side as a corner man. He managed and trained Dykes to World Title fights with both Surgar Ray Robinson and Kid Gavilan. In the 70's he managed heavy weight Terry Krueger to a top ten world ranking.
He eventually added judging and promoting to his repertoire, bringing George Foreman to San Antonio in one of his first professional fights; and showing many of Ali's greatest fights on live closed circuit television. When pay per view boxing replaced closed circuit shows, Richard Viscussi asked him to manage the gym at which Evander Holyfield trained.
His love for his family prevented him from leaving San Antonio. He elected instead to assist his boys, Brad and Jimmy, in their professional endeavors; stay close to his daughter, Sharon; and to attend every athletic event in which his grandchildren, Bo and Tina participated.
He, along with his wife Juanita, worked hard in the family office equipment business, in order to put their oldest son through law school.
All who knew him will sorely miss his ebullient wit. He took great pleasure in making us laugh. Life will never be quite as funny until we see him again.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and Calvin Parks and sister, Eloma Albright.
He is survived by his daughter, Sharon Kay Hatley and husband, Richard; sons, Brad Parks and Jimmy Parks, Jr. and wife, Liz; grandson, Bo Parks; granddaughter, Tina Allen and husband, James; great grandchildren, Brenden Parks, Faith Allen, and Makayla Allen. In addition to his children he is survived by his former wife, Juanita Parks and a sister, Louise Stendebach.
MM US MERCHANT MARNE
WORLD WAR II
James Byston Parks, Sr., age 79, died on Sunday, December 30, 2001, in San Antonio, Texas.
He was born on June 5, 1922, in Three Rivers, Texas.
His inimitable sense of humor touched everyone he met...from the gas station clerk, to the bank president; to the judge. He had an uncanny knack for one-liners. A while back, his son Jimmy Jr., Liz and Steve Vacek accompanied their dads to Las Vegas and he kept them in stitches, from the time they arrived at the airport until the plane touched down on its return to San Antonio.
His charismatic personality and infectious smile will stay indelibly etched in the memories of all who met him. He was truly unique.
After World War II, he entered the boxing world. He used his movie-star good looks and boyish charm to take him to the top of the business. He managed and trained two local fighters, Bobby Dykes and Jimmy Curl to world rankings, and had them ranked in the top five in the world in the same division at the same time. Ring Magazine reported that to be a first. During his tenure in Miami Beach he forged a strong relationship with Angelo Dundee, the eventual trainer of Muhammed Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard. Angelo worked for years by his side as a corner man. He managed and trained Dykes to World Title fights with both Surgar Ray Robinson and Kid Gavilan. In the 70's he managed heavy weight Terry Krueger to a top ten world ranking.
He eventually added judging and promoting to his repertoire, bringing George Foreman to San Antonio in one of his first professional fights; and showing many of Ali's greatest fights on live closed circuit television. When pay per view boxing replaced closed circuit shows, Richard Viscussi asked him to manage the gym at which Evander Holyfield trained.
His love for his family prevented him from leaving San Antonio. He elected instead to assist his boys, Brad and Jimmy, in their professional endeavors; stay close to his daughter, Sharon; and to attend every athletic event in which his grandchildren, Bo and Tina participated.
He, along with his wife Juanita, worked hard in the family office equipment business, in order to put their oldest son through law school.
All who knew him will sorely miss his ebullient wit. He took great pleasure in making us laugh. Life will never be quite as funny until we see him again.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and Calvin Parks and sister, Eloma Albright.
He is survived by his daughter, Sharon Kay Hatley and husband, Richard; sons, Brad Parks and Jimmy Parks, Jr. and wife, Liz; grandson, Bo Parks; granddaughter, Tina Allen and husband, James; great grandchildren, Brenden Parks, Faith Allen, and Makayla Allen. In addition to his children he is survived by his former wife, Juanita Parks and a sister, Louise Stendebach.
WORLD WAR II
James Byston Parks, Sr., age 79, died on Sunday, December 30, 2001, in San Antonio, Texas.
He was born on June 5, 1922, in Three Rivers, Texas.
His inimitable sense of humor touched everyone he met...from the gas station clerk, to the bank president; to the judge. He had an uncanny knack for one-liners. A while back, his son Jimmy Jr., Liz and Steve Vacek accompanied their dads to Las Vegas and he kept them in stitches, from the time they arrived at the airport until the plane touched down on its return to San Antonio.
His charismatic personality and infectious smile will stay indelibly etched in the memories of all who met him. He was truly unique.
After World War II, he entered the boxing world. He used his movie-star good looks and boyish charm to take him to the top of the business. He managed and trained two local fighters, Bobby Dykes and Jimmy Curl to world rankings, and had them ranked in the top five in the world in the same division at the same time. Ring Magazine reported that to be a first. During his tenure in Miami Beach he forged a strong relationship with Angelo Dundee, the eventual trainer of Muhammed Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard. Angelo worked for years by his side as a corner man. He managed and trained Dykes to World Title fights with both Surgar Ray Robinson and Kid Gavilan. In the 70's he managed heavy weight Terry Krueger to a top ten world ranking.
He eventually added judging and promoting to his repertoire, bringing George Foreman to San Antonio in one of his first professional fights; and showing many of Ali's greatest fights on live closed circuit television. When pay per view boxing replaced closed circuit shows, Richard Viscussi asked him to manage the gym at which Evander Holyfield trained.
His love for his family prevented him from leaving San Antonio. He elected instead to assist his boys, Brad and Jimmy, in their professional endeavors; stay close to his daughter, Sharon; and to attend every athletic event in which his grandchildren, Bo and Tina participated.
He, along with his wife Juanita, worked hard in the family office equipment business, in order to put their oldest son through law school.
All who knew him will sorely miss his ebullient wit. He took great pleasure in making us laugh. Life will never be quite as funny until we see him again.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and Calvin Parks and sister, Eloma Albright.
He is survived by his daughter, Sharon Kay Hatley and husband, Richard; sons, Brad Parks and Jimmy Parks, Jr. and wife, Liz; grandson, Bo Parks; granddaughter, Tina Allen and husband, James; great grandchildren, Brenden Parks, Faith Allen, and Makayla Allen. In addition to his children he is survived by his former wife, Juanita Parks and a sister, Louise Stendebach.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
