Kenneth Parker
November 1, 1931 — December 9, 2022
Kenneth D “Coach” Parker died on Friday, December 9, 2022, at Atlee Hill of Westminster. He was 91 years old. Born November 1, 1931, in Romney, West Virginia, he was the son of the late Forrest D. Parker and Dorothy Sue Parker.
Mr. Parker attended Romney High School where he played football. He was a guard on the 1949 Romney High School State Championship team and anchored the line which did not yield a single score in ten games. In 1950, he was selected by the United Press of the West Virginia All-State team as a guard. In addition he received the most valuable player award. After Romney High School, he attended Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia, on a football scholarship.
After graduation from Fork Union Military Academy, Mr. Parker enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for two years. He returned from the Army and played tackle for two years at Potomac State College. He went on to play football at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, where he graduated in 1959, receiving his B.A. and M.A. degrees.
His first coaching position was as an assistant at Charleston High School in Charleston, West Virginia. He then went to McArthur High School in West Hollywood , Florida, as an assistant to his former high school coach, Dick McElwee, where he met and married his wife Nancy.
His first football head coaching position was at Northampton High School in Eastville, Virginia. He remained there for five years. In 1967, Coach Parker came to South Carroll High School to begin the football program at the new school. He served as head football coach for twenty-five years, leading the Cavaliers to Tri-State League Championships in 1978, 1980, and 1983. In 1988, the Cavaliers won the Central Maryland Conference Championship and the Class A Region Championship in 1980, 1983 and 1988.
Coach Parker served as volunteer assistant football coach at south Carroll High School from 1992 until 1994. He retired from coaching and from teaching physical education and weight training AT South Carroll High School in 1996. In 2009 the South Carroll High School Athletic Stadium was named Parker field in his honor.
Throughout his coaching career, Coach Parker received recognition for his many accomplishments. He received Coach of the Year awards om 1978 from the Hagerstown Herald, in 1979 from the Carroll County Times, and in 1988 from the Baltimore Sun. In 1991, he was commended by Governor William Donald Schaefer for his energy invested in coaching and educating Maryland’s youth. In addition, Coach Parker was dedicated to helping his team members achieve personal as well as athletic growth, including both a blind and deaf football team member.
In 1993, he received the Special Achievement Award presented by the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. In 1995, he was admitted to Maryland Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, as well as being admitted into the Maryland Scholastic Football Coaches Care Honor Roll in Scholastic Coach publication recognizing his care and concern for students. In 2002, he received the Baltimore Touchdown Club’s Service to Football Award.
Coach Parker was admitted to the Potomac State College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. He was admitted to Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2012, Coach Parker became a member of the Hampshire County West Virginia Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was admitted to the South Carroll High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a lifetime member of the American Football Coaches Association.
Coach Parker was a member of the United Methodist Church at Ward’s Chapel in Randallstown, Maryland. He was also a member of the American Legion. He was a football enthusiast and an avid reader.
Coach Parker is survived by his wife Nancy Klippert Parker, one brother-in-law Dr. Fred Klippert and wife Julianne of Evans Georgia, sister-in-law Janet Mills of Seattle, Washington, a niece Mary Jo Ward, two nephews Chris and Tim Parker and their spouses and children. He was predeceased by his brothers Roger and wife JoAnn Parker of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, James and wife Kay Parker of Burlington West Virginia and brother-in-law Dr. John Klippert of Seattle, Washington.
A Memorial Service will be held 1 PM Saturday, April 1, 2023 in South Carroll High School Auditorium. Please check the funeral home’s website and Facebook page for updates, www.burrier-queen.com
Memorial Contributions maybe be made in memory of Coach Parker to Heritage Fund, Ward’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 11023 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133 and to the Fork Union Military Academy Athletic Department, PO Box 278, Fork Union VA 23055. Funeral Arrangements are by BURRIER-QUEEN FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, P.A. WWW.BURRIER-QUEEN.COM
Mr. Parker attended Romney High School where he played football. He was a guard on the 1949 Romney High School State Championship team and anchored the line which did not yield a single score in ten games. In 1950, he was selected by the United Press of the West Virginia All-State team as a guard. In addition he received the most valuable player award. After Romney High School, he attended Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia, on a football scholarship.
After graduation from Fork Union Military Academy, Mr. Parker enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for two years. He returned from the Army and played tackle for two years at Potomac State College. He went on to play football at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, where he graduated in 1959, receiving his B.A. and M.A. degrees.
His first coaching position was as an assistant at Charleston High School in Charleston, West Virginia. He then went to McArthur High School in West Hollywood , Florida, as an assistant to his former high school coach, Dick McElwee, where he met and married his wife Nancy.
His first football head coaching position was at Northampton High School in Eastville, Virginia. He remained there for five years. In 1967, Coach Parker came to South Carroll High School to begin the football program at the new school. He served as head football coach for twenty-five years, leading the Cavaliers to Tri-State League Championships in 1978, 1980, and 1983. In 1988, the Cavaliers won the Central Maryland Conference Championship and the Class A Region Championship in 1980, 1983 and 1988.
Coach Parker served as volunteer assistant football coach at south Carroll High School from 1992 until 1994. He retired from coaching and from teaching physical education and weight training AT South Carroll High School in 1996. In 2009 the South Carroll High School Athletic Stadium was named Parker field in his honor.
Throughout his coaching career, Coach Parker received recognition for his many accomplishments. He received Coach of the Year awards om 1978 from the Hagerstown Herald, in 1979 from the Carroll County Times, and in 1988 from the Baltimore Sun. In 1991, he was commended by Governor William Donald Schaefer for his energy invested in coaching and educating Maryland’s youth. In addition, Coach Parker was dedicated to helping his team members achieve personal as well as athletic growth, including both a blind and deaf football team member.
In 1993, he received the Special Achievement Award presented by the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. In 1995, he was admitted to Maryland Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, as well as being admitted into the Maryland Scholastic Football Coaches Care Honor Roll in Scholastic Coach publication recognizing his care and concern for students. In 2002, he received the Baltimore Touchdown Club’s Service to Football Award.
Coach Parker was admitted to the Potomac State College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. He was admitted to Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2012, Coach Parker became a member of the Hampshire County West Virginia Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was admitted to the South Carroll High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a lifetime member of the American Football Coaches Association.
Coach Parker was a member of the United Methodist Church at Ward’s Chapel in Randallstown, Maryland. He was also a member of the American Legion. He was a football enthusiast and an avid reader.
Coach Parker is survived by his wife Nancy Klippert Parker, one brother-in-law Dr. Fred Klippert and wife Julianne of Evans Georgia, sister-in-law Janet Mills of Seattle, Washington, a niece Mary Jo Ward, two nephews Chris and Tim Parker and their spouses and children. He was predeceased by his brothers Roger and wife JoAnn Parker of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, James and wife Kay Parker of Burlington West Virginia and brother-in-law Dr. John Klippert of Seattle, Washington.
A Memorial Service will be held 1 PM Saturday, April 1, 2023 in South Carroll High School Auditorium. Please check the funeral home’s website and Facebook page for updates, www.burrier-queen.com
Memorial Contributions maybe be made in memory of Coach Parker to Heritage Fund, Ward’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 11023 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133 and to the Fork Union Military Academy Athletic Department, PO Box 278, Fork Union VA 23055. Funeral Arrangements are by BURRIER-QUEEN FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, P.A. WWW.BURRIER-QUEEN.COM
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