Jackie Parker

John Dickerson "Jackie" Parker (January 1, 1932 – November 7, 2006) was an American gridiron football player and coach. He was an All-American in college football and professional football player in the Canadian Football League (CFL), playing the running back, quarterback, defensive back, and kicker positions. He is primarily known for his play with the Edmonton Eskimos. Later in his career, he played for the Toronto Argonauts and the BC Lions and coached the Eskimos and Lions after his playing career ended.

Parker was named a member of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1976, and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1976. In November 2006, Parker was voted third in the CFL's Top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.

Early life Parker was born on January 1, 1932, in Knoxville, Tennessee and given the name John Dickerson Flanagan. When his mother remarried, he took on the last name of her new husband, Carroll Parker. He suffered through two childhood health scares. The first was when he almost died of a ruptured appendix, and the second was when he suffered a flesh-eating disease that almost cost him his entire leg. Doctors wanted to amputate but Parker's mother would not allow it. Parker attended Young City High School in Knoxville, and despite playing only one year of football he was named an All-City tailback. While attending high school he met and married Peggy Jo, with whom he had three children, Jackie Jr., Peggy Mae and Jerri-Jo.

College career Jones County Junior College When he first graduated from high school Parker found that his college playing choices were limited because he was married, so he elected to play his first two years of college sports for Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi, from 1950 to 1951. In 1951, he led the Bobcat football team to a 9–0–1 record and a state title. He was also a standout baseball player helping JCJC to a South Division title and state runner-up finish in 1951 and a state championship in 1952. He was eventually inducted into both the JCJC Sports Hall of Fame He then transferred to Mississippi State University where he spent two seasons as a member of the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State When Parker first got to Mississippi State he once again found that his married status was a limiting factor as head football coach Murray Warmath had a policy against married players. Mississippi State baseball coach, R.P. "Doc" Patty had no such policy so Parker got a baseball scholarship and joined the team, where he was an outstanding shortstop and received an offer to play for the Cincinnati Reds. In 1952 the football coaches were in dire need of someone to run their new split-T offense and gave Parker a chance. Early on coaches were not impressed with Parker, but then in the final scrimmage before the opening game he tossed seven touchdowns. and Dak Prescott's 146.0 3rd in single-season total touchdowns responsible for rushing and passing with 24 in 1953 behind Prescott's 41 in 2014 and Russell's 26 in 2012. Tied with J. J. Johnson and John Bond for 5th in career rushing touchdowns with 24 behind Michael Davis, Vick Ballard, Dak Prescott, and Anthony Dixon. 7th on the all-time scoring list. 10th in single-season total touchdowns responsible for rushing and passing with 15 in 1952

On top of his exploits as the Bulldog QB, Parker was also the team's leading punt returner in 1953, the leading kick returner in 1952 and 1953, and led the team in passes intercepted in 1953 with 4.

To go along with his athletic awards, he was named to the 1953 Cosida All-Academic team. In 1976, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Professional playing career Once his college playing days were over Parker was drafted by both the New York Giants of the NFL and the Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Interprovincial Football Union (which became part of the Canadian Football League in 1958). Despite being offered more money by the Giants, Parker chose to sign with the Eskimos in part because his former quarterbacks coach at Mississippi State, Darrell Royal, had become the Eskimos' head coach. Royal never actually coached Parker in Canada as he returned to Mississippi State as the head coach for the 1954 season. At the end of his first season Giants owner Wellington Mara personally came calling with a contract worth almost twice what Parker was making with the Eskimos but Parker chose not to go to New York in part because Peggy said she liked Edmonton better.

Parker's awards and honours Parker's jersey No. 91 currently hangs on the Wall of Honour at the Eskimos' Commonwealth Stadium. Jackie Parker Park, in Edmonton, Alberta, was named in his honour. The Jackie Parker Trophy, awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Rookie in the West Division, is named after him.

Jackie Parker was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1971, the Mississippi State University Sports Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1972, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1976, and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. In November 2006, Parker was voted as #3 on a list of the CFL's top 50 players since 1945, in a poll conducted by Canadian sports network TSN.

Grey Cup victories – 1954, 1955, 1956 CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – 1957, 1958, 1960 WIFU or CFL All-Star – 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy (West Division's most outstanding player) – 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy (top scorer in West Division) – 1959, 1961 Canadian Football Hall of Fame – 1971 Edmonton Eskimo Wall of Honour – 1983 Canada's Sports Hall of Fame – 1987 All Southeastern Conference – 1952, 1953 College Football All-America Team – 1959 Nashville Banner SEC MVP – 1952, 1953 Birmingham QB Club MVP – 1953 Atlanta Touchdown Club Back of the Year – 1953 Mississippi State University Sports Hall of Fame – 1972 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame – 1972 College Football Hall of Fame – 1976 Jones County Junior College Sports Hall of Fame – 2013 National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame - 1995