Harry Parker (rower) facts for kids
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| Born | October 28, 1935 | |||||||||||||
| Died | June 25, 2013 (aged 77) Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Sport | Rowing | |||||||||||||
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Harry Parker (born October 28, 1935 – died June 25, 2013) was a very famous rowing coach. He led the main rowing team at Harvard University for 50 years, from 1963 to 2013. He also competed for the United States in the single scull (a type of rowing boat) at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Contents
Harry Parker's Rowing Journey
Early Days and College Rowing
Harry Parker went to the University of Pennsylvania. There, he studied Philosophy and discovered his love for rowing. A coach named Joe Burk helped him a lot.
In 1955, Parker was part of the Penn team that won a big race. It was called the Grand Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in England.
Competing as a Sculler
After college, Parker started racing in single sculls. He won a gold medal at the 1959 Pan American Games. This was a major international sports event.
In 1959, he also raced in the Diamond Scull event at the Henley Royal Regatta. He finished second to a champion named Stuart Mackenzie.
The Olympics
In 1960, Harry Parker won the U.S. Olympic trials for the single scull. This meant he would represent the United States.
At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, Parker reached the finals. He finished in fifth place.
Coaching Success
Starting at Harvard
While training for the national team, Harry Parker was suggested for a coaching job. In 1961, he became the freshman coach at Harvard University.
In 1963, Harvard's main coach suddenly passed away. Parker was asked to take over temporarily. His team had a tough season at first.
The Famous Harvard-Yale Race
The most important race for Harvard rowing is against Yale University. It's the oldest and longest-running college sports event in the U.S.
Parker worked hard to get his team ready. Even though they were not expected to win, Harvard beat Yale in an upset. After this big win, Parker became the permanent head coach. Harvard would not lose to Yale again until 1981!
Early Wins and Olympic Coaching
Parker's coaching brought immediate success. His teams won the Eastern Sprints (a league championship) every year from 1964 to 1970.
He also coached a Harvard four-man boat at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. In 1965, Harry Parker and his Harvard team were featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine.
His teams won the 1967 Pan American Games. They also finished second at the 1967 European Championships.
Representing the USA
In 1968, Parker's Harvard team earned the chance to represent the United States. They raced at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. This was the last time a college team represented the U.S. in the men's eight-man event.
At the Olympics, one of Harvard's rowers became sick. The team still made the finals and finished sixth.
Coaching the National Team
By the 1970s, other countries were becoming very strong in rowing. The U.S. decided to create a national camp system. This was to make sure the best rowers were on the national team.
Harry Parker was chosen as the head coach for this national team. Many former Harvard rowers were on the team. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Team USA won a silver medal in the men's eight-man event.
Continued Dominance
Parker's Harvard teams continued to be successful in the 1970s. In 1974 and 1975, his teams were considered among the best ever. They won all their college races.
In 1975, Parker also became the first coach for the U.S. women's national team. This team, known as the "Red Rose Crew," won a silver medal at the World Rowing Championships.
He then coached the USA women's eight at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. They won a bronze medal.
More Championships
Harvard continued to win Eastern Sprints titles in the late 1970s. In 1981, Yale finally beat Harvard in their famous race, ending Parker's 18-year winning streak.
In 1983, Harvard won the Eastern Sprints again. They also won the first-ever National Collegiate Rowing Championship. In 1985, Parker's Harvard team won the Eastern Sprints, the National Collegiate Rowing Championship, and the Grand Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta.
Harvard remained a top rowing team through the late 1980s and early 1990s. They won national championships in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1992. They also won Eastern Sprints titles in 1988, 1989, and 1990.
Modern Era Success
In 2003, after a few years without championships, Parker's team won the Eastern Sprints. They then decided to compete in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championship, which they also won. They continued this winning streak in 2004 and 2005, winning both the Eastern Sprints and the IRAs.
The 2004 Harvard team was possibly the fastest ever. They even competed against national teams from other countries in Europe. They made it to the finals at a World Cup event in Lucerne, beating Olympic teams from Great Britain and France.
Harry Parker coached many teams at the Henley Royal Regatta. His last win there was in 2012. He completed 51 seasons as a head coach, making him one of the most important American rowing coaches of his time.
Harry Parker Boathouse
On September 10, 2008, a new boathouse was named after Harry Parker. It belongs to Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI), a large public rowing organization. The boathouse is in Brighton, Massachusetts.
Harry Parker was a supporter of CRI. He helped bring rowing to more people. The boathouse was officially dedicated on October 16, 2008.
Personal Life
Harry Parker was married twice. His first marriage ended in 1979. He had two sons from this marriage: George Franklin Parker and David Lambert Parker.
Later, he married Kathy Keeler. She was an Olympic gold medalist in rowing at the 1984 Summer Olympics. They had a daughter named Abigail Parker.
In 2011, Parker was diagnosed with a serious illness. He passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 25, 2013, at the age of 77.
Achievements
Personal Achievements
- Won a gold medal at the 1959 Pan American Games (single scull).
- Finished 5th at the 1960 Olympic Games (single scull).
- Became a member of the US Rowing Hall of Fame as a coach in 1974.
- Was an oarsman on the 1955 Penn Varsity Boat, which was elected to the US Rowing Hall of Fame in 1977.
Harvard's Team Achievements
- San Diego Crew Classic (Varsity): 1975, 1976, 1979, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 2012
- Varsity Eastern Sprints championships: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013
- National Championships:
- Unofficial: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1974, 1975, 1976
- Quasi-official (National Collegiate Rowing Championship): 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992
- Quasi-official (IRA): 2003, 2004, 2005
- Henley Royal Regatta Wins:
- 1973 (Ladies' Challenge Plate: Second Varsity)
- 1985 (Grand Challenge Cup)
- 1990 (Ladies Challenge Plate)
- 1993 (Britannia Challenge Cup)
- 1998 (Ladies Challenge Plate)
- 2002 (Ladies Challenge Plate; Britannia Challenge Cup)
- 2007 (Ladies Challenge Plate)
- 2010 (Ladies Challenge Plate)
- 2011 (Prince Albert Challenge Cup)
- 2012 (Ladies Challenge Plate)
- Harvard-Yale Race Record as Coach: 43 wins and 7 losses. He won every year from 1963, except for 1981–1984, 1996, 1999, and 2007.
Olympic Coaching Achievements
- 1964: Men's Four with Coxswain (Did not qualify)
- 1968: Men's Eight (6th Place)
- 1972: Men's Eight (Silver Medal)
- 1976: Women's Eight (Bronze Medal)
- 1980: Men's Head coach (USA boycotted games)
- 1984: Men's Double (Gold Medal)
See also
- Andrew Sudduth
