Dave Parks facts for kids
Parks in 2008
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| No. 81, 83 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver, Tight end |
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| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | December 25, 1941 Muenster, Texas, U.S. |
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| Died: | August 8, 2019 (aged 77) Austin, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 207 lb (94 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Abilene High School, Texas | ||||||||
| College: | Texas Tech | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1964 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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David Wayne Parks (born December 25, 1941 – died August 8, 2019) was an American football player. He played as a wide receiver and tight end in the NFL.
Dave Parks was the very first player picked in the 1964 NFL Draft. He came from Texas Tech University. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times. He was also named an All-Pro player twice. In 1965, he achieved something special called the "triple crown" for receivers. This means he led the NFL in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns. In 2008, Dave Parks was honored by being put into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Contents
Dave Parks' Football Journey
High School Years
Dave Parks went to Abilene High School (Abilene, Texas) in Texas. He played football there under coach Chuck Moser.
College Career at Texas Tech
Parks played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He played from 1961 to 1963. While at Texas Tech, Dave set many school records. He also earned several awards.
In 1962, during his junior year, Parks was named an All-Southwest Conference player. After his last season in 1963, he became the first Texas Tech player ever to be named an Associated Press All-American. He also received honors from other sports publications.
Dave Parks was invited to play in several important college all-star games. These included the East West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl.
When he finished college, Parks held many school records. He had the most career catches (80). He also had the most catches in a single season (32). His record for the longest interception return (98 yards) from a 1962 game is still a school record today.
Dave Parks is one of only five Texas Tech players to have their jersey number retired. This is a huge honor. His name is also engraved around Jones AT&T Stadium. He is the only Red Raider player ever picked first overall in the NFL Draft.
In 2008, Parks was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He joined other great Texas Tech players there. In 2012, he was also inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Playing in the NFL
The San Francisco 49ers picked Dave Parks as the first player in the 1964 NFL Draft. He was one of only three wide receivers ever picked first overall.
Early in his first season, Parks set a team record. He had an 83-yard catch, which was the longest reception for the 49ers at the time. A week later, he had an 80-yard catch. Both of these records stood for 13 years.
In 1965, Parks had an amazing year. He achieved the "receiving triple crown." This means he led the entire National Football League in three categories:
- Catches (80)
- Receiving yards (1,344)
- Receiving touchdowns (12)
Because of his great performance, Parks was chosen for the 1965 Pro Bowl. He was also named to the 1965 All-Pro Team.
Parks continued to play well. He was named to the 1966 All-Pro Team. He also played in the 1966 Pro Bowl and the 1967 Pro Bowl. After the 1967 season, Parks moved to the New Orleans Saints. He played there for five seasons.
In 1973, he played for the Houston Oilers. He retired after that season. Dave Parks finished his NFL career with 360 catches. He had 5,619 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns.
Life After Football
Dave Parks lived in Austin, Texas. He worked as an associate director for the Texas Ranger Law Enforcement Organization. He also invented a lawn and garden tool called the 'Speedy Weedy'. Dave Parks passed away on August 7, 2019, at 77 years old.
