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Tom Parry

1923 – 2017

American football coach

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About Tom Parry

Lived 1923 – 2017 (aged 94). Tom Parry was an American american football player and military personnel.

Tom Jones "Black Tom" Parry Jr. (January 24, 1923 – November 21, 2017) was an American football coach. He was the head football coach at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, from 1966 to 1982 and 1984 to 1986.

Early years Parry was born in Seattle in 1923. He attended Queen Anne High School, graduating in 1941. He attended Washington State College (now known as Washington State University) where he was a lineman for the Washington State Cougars football team in 1942, 1946, and 1947. His college career was interrupted by service in the United States Navy during World War II. He was co-captain of the 1947 Washington State Cougars football team.

Coaching career Parry began his coaching career at Langley High School on Whidbey Island in 1949. He then coached at Clarkston High School in Clarkston, Washington from 1950 to 1955.

Parry was hired as the head football coach at Central Washington University in March 1966. He served in that role from 1966 to 1982 and 1984 to 1986, compiling a career college football coaching record of 95–91–4. He won the NAIA District 1 Coach of the Year award five times, and his teams won six conference championships.

Parry left Central Washington for one year in 1983 to serve as an assistant coach of the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League (USFL).

After retiring from Central Washington, he returned to head coaching at Yakima Valley College in 1989. He also served as an assistant coach briefly at Washington State.

Head coaching record College

Junior college

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Important facts

People in Tom Parry's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Tom Parry's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Tom Parry?

American football coach

When was Tom Parry born?

Tom Parry was born on 24 January 1923.

When did Tom Parry die?

Tom Parry died on 21 November 2017.

What was Tom Parry's occupation?

Tom Parry was an american football player and military personnel.

What nationality was Tom Parry?

Tom Parry was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Tom Parry

· Wikidata: Q116947918

· DBpedia: Tom Parry (American football)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tom Parry. https://biography.guide/tom-parry-american-football-player/

MLA: "Tom Parry." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tom-parry-american-football-player/.

Chicago: "Tom Parry." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tom-parry-american-football-player/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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