Dan Parker

Dan Parker (July 1, 1893 – May 20, 1967) was an American sportswriter and columnist who worked for The New York Daily Mirror from 1926 to 1963.

Early life and education Daniel Francis Parker was born on July 1, 1893, in Waterbury, Connecticut, United States.

He went to Crosby High School in his hometown. He began serving as sports editor and columnist for The New York Daily Mirror in 1926.

His reporting on corruption within the fight industry prompted former Governor Thomas E. Dewey to propose him as chairman of the New York State Boxing Commission in 1942, though he turned down the role as boxing commissioner. At the same time, he began contributing to the Ottawa Citizen. He often traveled to Montreal and, over time, developed a close friendship with Canadian sportsman Léo Dandurand.

Outside of newspapers, he produced stories for magazines. Parker wrote a highly cited article that was featured in Look magazine, titled "Boxing Is Still Legalized Murder," in 1950. He appeared in print in the June 1950 and March 1951 issues of Cosmopolitan magazine. One of his articles on boxing, "I Think the Boxing Business Smells," was featured in True magazine in 1953.

Throughout the 1950s, he spent numerous years leading the Damon Runyon Memorial Fund for Cancer Research as its president. He went on to receive his second Page One Award from the Newspaper Guild of New York for his November 1955 series, "They're Murdering Boxing." His exposés revealing underworld influence in professional boxing were followed by official probes and the 1959 conviction of Frankie Carbo and associates.

New York Journal-American The veteran sports columnist held his position at The New York Daily Mirror until it was discontinued in 1963. Even as the rest of the staff moved on, he continued working from the paper's newsroom and temporarily shifted his column to the now-defunct New York Journal-American.

Death Parker passed away from cancer at Saint Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, Connecticut, United States, on May 20, 1967, at 73. Newspaper Guild of New York Page One Award (1951) Newspaper Guild of New York Page One Award (1956) Newspaper Guild of New York Page One Award (1961) National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Award (1960) International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee (1996)