willie D. Parker
ENSHRINED INTO UAPB HALL OF FAME
Willie Parker & Bob Love
Willie D. Parker reflects on his football playing days at Morehouse High
School, Arkansas AM&N and the Houston Oilers as well as a 33-year stint with the Bastrop Police Department.
Willie David Parker says he could write four books on his fascinating life, which has taken him from Mer Rouge to the NFL and back to Morehouse Parish.
“I could write one for high school, one for college, one for the pros and one for my time as a policeman,” Parker said.
Parker recently added another chapter to his football career when he was inducted into the Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College /University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Letter “A” Club Hall of Fame. Joining Parker in the six-member class were Clarence Collins (track and field), John Eaves Sr. (tennis), Donald Evans (football), Willie Roberts (football and baseball) and honorary inductee Carl Whimper, the school’s former sports information director.
A four-part look at Parker’s athletic and professional career:
High School
Growing up in Mer Rouge, Parker crossed paths with another future Morehouse Parish great. Lou Brock retired as Major League Baseball’s all-time stolen base king on his way to earning a spot in the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Brock, who resided in Collinston, attended Union High School in Mer Rouge and went on to play for Southern University.
Parker’s athletic career began to take off at Morehouse High School where he blossomed into a mammoth 6-3, 295-pounder. (Keep in mind that 300-pounders were rare in the early 1960s). Extremely mobile for his size, Parker was a four-sport star at Morehouse in football, baseball, basketball and track. He was part of the Tigers’ legendary run which included state championships in football, basketball and baseball.
A two-way tackle, capped his high school football career by being named MVP of the 1963 LISLO High School All-Star Classic at Southern University in Baton Rouge.
Parker is one of several former Morehouse stalwarts from that era who went on to play professionally, joining an impressive list which includes Bob Brown, Bob “Butterbean” Love and Lucious Jackson.
Brown signed with UAPB and helped the Green Bay Packers win Super Bowls I and II. His 11-year NFL career was highlighted by a Pro Bowl appearance in 1972.
Love spent nine seasons with the Chicago Bulls during a distinguished 13-year NBA career. A three-time NBA All-Star, Love is the second-leading scorer in Bulls’ history, ranking behind only Michael Jordan.
Jackson spent his entire nine-year NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers where he was chosen to play in the NBA All-Star Game as a rookie in 1964.
College
Inserted into the stating lineup at defensive tackle as a true freshman, Parker made an immediate impact at what was then Arkansas AM&N.
“Monk Williams and myself were the only ones that played as freshmen,” Parker recalled. “Everybody else in our class was redshirted. Monk was a running back. The first time he touched the ball, he went 85 yards.”
Parker teamed with L.C. Greenwood to form a fearsome front four for the Golden Lions. An original member of the famed Steel Curtain, one of the best defensive lines in NFL history, Greenwood helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win four Super Bowl titles while being selected to the Pro Bowl five times during a stellar 18-year pro career.
Among Parker’s fondest college memories is splitting four games with Grambling, the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s traditional power. “Whipping Grambling is my favorite memory from college,” Parker said, directing a playful look toward his wife and Grambling alumnus Dorothy P. Parker. “We beat them twice and they beat us twice. Man, they had some good teams back then.”
Parker wasn’t just big and fast, he was also fierce. One of his former college teammates recently reminded him of an unfortunate encounter with a Parker elbow during practice.
“I was talking to Boogie Lee Bryant at the induction ceremony,” Parker said. “I don’t remember it, but he says I knocked his teeth out. You could elbow back them.”
As a senior, Parker was recognized as the SWAC’s Defensive Player of the Year following the 1966 season. A couple of months later, he received a call from the Dallas Cowboys.
“It was big to be drafted in the third round back then, but it wasn’t the kind of money they make now,” Parker said. “It was thousands — maybe hundreds — in those days. Now they’re millionaires.” Parker’s signing bonus did include his first car, a 1967 Dodger Charger. “It had two four-barrel carburetors, and 165 (mph) on the speedometer. Most cars back then only went to 120 on the speedometer,” Parker said. “Guess how much gas cost back then — 17 cents a gallon.” There was only one problem with the glistening, new ride. “I didn’t know how to drive,” Parker laughed. In stepped Henry Cotton, Parker’s high school classmate and current mayor of Bastrop.
“Coach (Vanette) Johnson kept my car for me until I learned how to drive,” Parker said. “Henry Cotton, who was going to UAPB at the time, taught me how to drive. I talked about that during my induction speech.”
Parker, who majored in math, was among the top 10 students in his graduating class.
Pros
Shortly after being drafted by the Cowboys, Parker was among four players dealt to the Houston Oilers in exchange for the right to sign Ralph Neely. Upon reporting to the Oilers, Parker quickly developed a friendship with Ernie Ladd, who went on to professional wrestling fame after retiring from football.
“Ernie Ladd was my best friend,” Parker said. “He used to come over to my house and play dominos when he would pass through Bastrop on his way to a wrestling match. His wife taught me how to cook gumbo. “Ernie was a big man. He was 6-9 or 6-10 when we were with the Oilers. He used to come to my house and eat up all my food.”
Parker says Ladd was as a character inside and outside of the squared circle.“I was 6-3, 299 pounds when I went to the Oilers,” Parker said. “The coaches didn’t want you above 300 pounds. Back then, 270 pounds was big. Nowadays, they come in at 6-8, 340 or 350. Guys are so big they can’t bend over to tie their shoe. As soon as I reported to the Oilers, the coaches wanted me to lose weight. When Ernie Ladd found out they wanted me to lose weight, he started calling me ‘Fats Parker.’”
Source: Bastrop Daily Enterprise
School, Arkansas AM&N and the Houston Oilers as well as a 33-year stint with the Bastrop Police Department.
Willie David Parker says he could write four books on his fascinating life, which has taken him from Mer Rouge to the NFL and back to Morehouse Parish.
“I could write one for high school, one for college, one for the pros and one for my time as a policeman,” Parker said.
Parker recently added another chapter to his football career when he was inducted into the Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College /University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Letter “A” Club Hall of Fame. Joining Parker in the six-member class were Clarence Collins (track and field), John Eaves Sr. (tennis), Donald Evans (football), Willie Roberts (football and baseball) and honorary inductee Carl Whimper, the school’s former sports information director.
A four-part look at Parker’s athletic and professional career:
High School
Growing up in Mer Rouge, Parker crossed paths with another future Morehouse Parish great. Lou Brock retired as Major League Baseball’s all-time stolen base king on his way to earning a spot in the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Brock, who resided in Collinston, attended Union High School in Mer Rouge and went on to play for Southern University.
Parker’s athletic career began to take off at Morehouse High School where he blossomed into a mammoth 6-3, 295-pounder. (Keep in mind that 300-pounders were rare in the early 1960s). Extremely mobile for his size, Parker was a four-sport star at Morehouse in football, baseball, basketball and track. He was part of the Tigers’ legendary run which included state championships in football, basketball and baseball.
A two-way tackle, capped his high school football career by being named MVP of the 1963 LISLO High School All-Star Classic at Southern University in Baton Rouge.
Parker is one of several former Morehouse stalwarts from that era who went on to play professionally, joining an impressive list which includes Bob Brown, Bob “Butterbean” Love and Lucious Jackson.
Brown signed with UAPB and helped the Green Bay Packers win Super Bowls I and II. His 11-year NFL career was highlighted by a Pro Bowl appearance in 1972.
Love spent nine seasons with the Chicago Bulls during a distinguished 13-year NBA career. A three-time NBA All-Star, Love is the second-leading scorer in Bulls’ history, ranking behind only Michael Jordan.
Jackson spent his entire nine-year NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers where he was chosen to play in the NBA All-Star Game as a rookie in 1964.
College
Inserted into the stating lineup at defensive tackle as a true freshman, Parker made an immediate impact at what was then Arkansas AM&N.
“Monk Williams and myself were the only ones that played as freshmen,” Parker recalled. “Everybody else in our class was redshirted. Monk was a running back. The first time he touched the ball, he went 85 yards.”
Parker teamed with L.C. Greenwood to form a fearsome front four for the Golden Lions. An original member of the famed Steel Curtain, one of the best defensive lines in NFL history, Greenwood helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win four Super Bowl titles while being selected to the Pro Bowl five times during a stellar 18-year pro career.
Among Parker’s fondest college memories is splitting four games with Grambling, the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s traditional power. “Whipping Grambling is my favorite memory from college,” Parker said, directing a playful look toward his wife and Grambling alumnus Dorothy P. Parker. “We beat them twice and they beat us twice. Man, they had some good teams back then.”
Parker wasn’t just big and fast, he was also fierce. One of his former college teammates recently reminded him of an unfortunate encounter with a Parker elbow during practice.
“I was talking to Boogie Lee Bryant at the induction ceremony,” Parker said. “I don’t remember it, but he says I knocked his teeth out. You could elbow back them.”
As a senior, Parker was recognized as the SWAC’s Defensive Player of the Year following the 1966 season. A couple of months later, he received a call from the Dallas Cowboys.
“It was big to be drafted in the third round back then, but it wasn’t the kind of money they make now,” Parker said. “It was thousands — maybe hundreds — in those days. Now they’re millionaires.” Parker’s signing bonus did include his first car, a 1967 Dodger Charger. “It had two four-barrel carburetors, and 165 (mph) on the speedometer. Most cars back then only went to 120 on the speedometer,” Parker said. “Guess how much gas cost back then — 17 cents a gallon.” There was only one problem with the glistening, new ride. “I didn’t know how to drive,” Parker laughed. In stepped Henry Cotton, Parker’s high school classmate and current mayor of Bastrop.
“Coach (Vanette) Johnson kept my car for me until I learned how to drive,” Parker said. “Henry Cotton, who was going to UAPB at the time, taught me how to drive. I talked about that during my induction speech.”
Parker, who majored in math, was among the top 10 students in his graduating class.
Pros
Shortly after being drafted by the Cowboys, Parker was among four players dealt to the Houston Oilers in exchange for the right to sign Ralph Neely. Upon reporting to the Oilers, Parker quickly developed a friendship with Ernie Ladd, who went on to professional wrestling fame after retiring from football.
“Ernie Ladd was my best friend,” Parker said. “He used to come over to my house and play dominos when he would pass through Bastrop on his way to a wrestling match. His wife taught me how to cook gumbo. “Ernie was a big man. He was 6-9 or 6-10 when we were with the Oilers. He used to come to my house and eat up all my food.”
Parker says Ladd was as a character inside and outside of the squared circle.“I was 6-3, 299 pounds when I went to the Oilers,” Parker said. “The coaches didn’t want you above 300 pounds. Back then, 270 pounds was big. Nowadays, they come in at 6-8, 340 or 350. Guys are so big they can’t bend over to tie their shoe. As soon as I reported to the Oilers, the coaches wanted me to lose weight. When Ernie Ladd found out they wanted me to lose weight, he started calling me ‘Fats Parker.’”
Source: Bastrop Daily Enterprise