Dave Parks
David Wayne Parks (December 25, 1941 – August 8, 2019) was an American professional football player renowned for his exceptional career as a wide receiver and tight end in the National Football League (NFL).[1] Born in Muenster, Texas, Parks rose to prominence at Texas Tech University, where he played from 1961 to 1963 as a split end, defensive back, and punter, setting multiple school records including career receptions (80) and receiving yards (1,090), and becoming the first Red Raider selected to the Associated Press All-America first team in 1963 as a consensus All-American.[2][3] His college achievements earned him induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Texas Tech Ring of Honor in 2012 as part of its charter class.[2][3] Selected as the first overall pick in the 1964 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, Parks quickly established himself as one of the league's premier deep threats, amassing 360 receptions for 5,619 yards and 44 touchdowns over 118 games across three teams: the 49ers (1964–1967), New Orleans Saints (1968–1972), and Houston Oilers (1973).[1] His standout 1965 season with the 49ers saw him lead the NFL in receiving yards (1,344), receptions (80), and touchdown receptions (12), earning first-team All-Pro honors, a Pro Bowl selection, and a third-place finish in Associated Press MVP voting.[1] Parks earned three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 1965 to 1967 and second-team All-Pro recognition in 1966, solidifying his reputation for reliable hands and big-play ability despite playing in an era of limited passing offenses.[1][3] After retiring, he contributed to law enforcement as an associate director with the Texas Rangers and served on the executive board of the Dallas NFL Retired Players Association, while also inventing a lawn tool called the "Speedy Weedy."[3] Parks passed away in Austin, Texas, at age 77.[1]Early life
Birth and family background
David Wayne Parks was born on December 25, 1941, in Muenster, a small rural town in north-central Texas known for its agricultural economy and tight-knit community.[1] His parents were Thomas Albert Parks and Oda Fay Johnson Parks, though specific details about their occupations or personal histories remain limited in available records.[4] Parks spent his early childhood in rural Texas settings, initially in Muenster before his family relocated to Abilene around the time he entered fifth or sixth grade, transitioning from the tiny community of St. Jo to the larger but still modestly sized city of Abilene.[5][6] This move exposed him to a new environment while maintaining the rural influences of wide-open spaces and community-oriented life that characterized much of his formative years. No public records detail siblings or extended family dynamics, highlighting the private nature of his early family life. Parks developed an early interest in sports during elementary school, where he first encountered organized football as a sixth-grader at Bowie Elementary School in Abilene, participating on the Bobcats team alongside classmates in sixth and seventh grades.[4] Despite having no prior experience upon entering junior high—where he was the only student to admit never having played the game—he quickly embraced the sport's physical demands. This foundational exposure laid the groundwork for his later pursuits in high school athletics.High school career
Dave Parks attended Abilene High School in Abilene, Texas, graduating in 1960.[5] A multi-sport standout, he participated in football, basketball, and track during his high school years.[7] In football, Parks excelled as an end under head coach Chuck Moser, earning selection to the Texas Sports Writers Association Class 4A First Team All-State in 1959 as a senior.[8]College career
Texas Tech University
Dave Parks enrolled at Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) in 1960 following his graduation from Abilene High School, where he had earned All-State honors as a recruitment factor, and played football for the Red Raiders from 1961 to 1963.[5] Positioned primarily as an end and wide receiver in a two-way role, Parks measured 6 feet 2 inches tall and approximately 195 pounds, leveraging his size, speed, and sure hands to become a big-play threat on offense while also contributing on defense and special teams as one of the nation's top blockers.[2][9][3] Parks' freshman season in 1961 was modest, with 16 receptions for 209 yards and one touchdown over 10 games, averaging 20.9 yards per game.[10] He broke out as a sophomore in 1962, recording 32 receptions for 399 yards and one touchdown, which led the Southwest Conference in receptions and showcased his growing role in the passing game.[10] In his junior year of 1963, Parks led the team in receiving with 32 catches for 499 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 15.6 yards per reception and establishing a school record for single-season receiving yards at the time.[10][11] His performance peaked in key games, including a record-setting effort against Kansas State in 1963, where he hauled in eight receptions for 132 yards—school records for single-game receptions and receiving yards that underscored his dominance as a receiver.[11] Against Texas A&M that same season, Parks made a crucial standout catch for a last-second touchdown, helping secure a vital victory.[12] Defensively, he highlighted his versatility with a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown versus Colorado in 1962, the longest such play in Texas Tech history.[2]College achievements
In 1963, Parks earned first-team All-American honors from the Associated Press, becoming the first Texas Tech player to achieve this distinction and bringing national recognition to the program's passing attack.[2][11] He was also selected as a consensus All-American that year, joining elite company with future NFL stars like Roger Staubach and Gale Sayers.[13] During his junior season, Parks set Texas Tech records with 32 receptions for 499 yards and 4 touchdowns, leading the Southwest Conference in yards per reception at 15.6 while ranking second in receiving touchdowns.[10] These marks tied the school single-season receptions record he had established in 1962 and underscored his role as a pioneering receiver in an era of run-heavy offenses. His performance contributed to Texas Tech's 5-5 overall record and 2-5 finish in the Southwest Conference, marking a milestone as the program's inaugural All-American.[14][11] Parks' collegiate impact was formally recognized with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 as part of the National Football Foundation's class announced on May 1.[15] The honor celebrated his versatility as a two-way player under coach J.T. King from 1961 to 1963, where he excelled in the passing game with career totals of 80 receptions for 1,107 yards and 6 touchdowns while also contributing defensively to disrupt opponents.[3] As a trailblazer for Texas Tech football, Parks' achievements elevated the Red Raiders' profile and set enduring standards for wide receivers at the institution.[16]Professional career
San Francisco 49ers
Dave Parks was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the first overall pick in the 1964 NFL Draft after earning consensus All-American honors at Texas Tech University.[1] This selection highlighted his potential as a deep-threat receiver, positioning him as a key component of the 49ers' passing attack led by quarterback John Brodie.[1] In his rookie season of 1964, Parks quickly established himself with 36 receptions for 703 yards and 8 touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl invitation as one of the league's top newcomers.[1] Early in the year, just six games in, he set a franchise record for the longest reception with an 83-yard touchdown catch against the Los Angeles Rams.[17] His 19.5 yards per catch ranked third in the NFL, showcasing his speed and ability to stretch the field despite the team's 4-10 record.[1] Parks reached his peak performance with the 49ers from 1965 to 1966, forming a dynamic duo with Brodie. In 1965, he captured the NFL receiving triple crown by leading the league in receptions (80), receiving yards (1,344), and tying for the lead in touchdown receptions (12).[18] He followed with 66 receptions for 974 yards and 5 touchdowns in 1966, earning Pro Bowl selections in 1964, 1965, and 1966 along with First-Team All-Pro honors in 1965 and Second-Team in 1966.[1] These seasons marked his most productive stretch, with over 2,300 receiving yards combined in 1965 and 1966.[1] Under head coach Jack Christiansen, who guided the 49ers from 1963 to 1967, Parks adapted to the more sophisticated professional defenses by developing an intuitive rapport with Brodie to anticipate and exploit coverages.[19] This partnership allowed them to adjust routes on the fly, contributing to Parks' emergence as a premier wide receiver amid the team's rebuilding efforts in the mid-1960s.[17]New Orleans Saints and Houston Oilers
After playing out his option with the San Francisco 49ers following the 1967 season, Dave Parks signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent, prompting NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle to rule that the Saints must compensate the 49ers with their 1968 first-round draft selection (used to select defensive end Kevin Hardy, who was immediately traded to San Francisco) and their 1969 first-round pick (the 7th overall, used by the 49ers to select tight end Ted Kwalick) as penalty for signing a player under option.[20][21][22] Parks joined the expansion Saints in their second year of existence, initially continuing as a wide receiver but transitioning to tight end in later seasons to bolster the team's blocking and passing options amid ongoing offensive struggles.[23] Over five seasons with New Orleans from 1968 to 1972, Parks recorded 149 receptions for 2,254 yards and 16 touchdowns, providing a reliable target despite the team's mediocrity in the NFL's expansion era.[1] The Saints finished no higher than third in their division during this period, compiling records of 4-9-1 in 1968, 5-9 in 1969, 2-11-1 in 1970, 4-9-1 in 1971, and 2-11-1 in 1972, with Parks often serving as a key offensive contributor in a run-heavy scheme under coaches Tom Fears and J.D. Roberts.[24][25] His most productive year came in 1971 with 35 catches for 568 yards and five touchdowns, followed by a career-high six scores in 1972 on 32 receptions for 542 yards while entrenched at tight end.[1] Parks concluded his NFL career with the Houston Oilers in 1973, appearing in five games and registering three receptions for 31 yards and one touchdown before retiring at age 31.[26] The Oilers, mired in a 1-13 finish that year, utilized Parks primarily as a wide receiver in limited action, marking the end of his decade-long professional tenure after earlier Pro Bowl recognition with the 49ers.[27][3]Career statistics
Regular season
Dave Parks appeared in 118 regular-season games across 10 NFL seasons from 1964 to 1973, accumulating 360 receptions for 5,619 yards and 44 receiving touchdowns.[1] His career average of 15.6 yards per reception highlighted his role as a deep-threat receiver, with a longest reception of 83 yards.[1] The table below details his year-by-year regular-season receiving statistics, including games played (G), receptions (Rec), receiving yards (Yds), yards per reception (Y/R), longest reception (Lng), and touchdowns (TD).[1]| Year | Team | G | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | SFO | 14 | 36 | 703 | 19.5 | 83 | 8 |
| 1965 | SFO | 14 | 80 | 1344 | 16.8 | 53 | 12 |
| 1966 | SFO | 13 | 66 | 974 | 14.8 | 65 | 5 |
| 1967 | SFO | 9 | 26 | 313 | 12.0 | 43 | 2 |
| 1968 | NOR | 10 | 25 | 258 | 10.3 | 41 | 0 |
| 1969 | NOR | 14 | 31 | 439 | 14.2 | 40 | 3 |
| 1970 | NOR | 13 | 26 | 447 | 17.2 | 38 | 2 |
| 1971 | NOR | 14 | 35 | 568 | 16.2 | 42 | 5 |
| 1972 | NOR | 12 | 32 | 542 | 16.9 | 66 | 6 |
| 1973 | HOU | 5 | 3 | 31 | 10.3 | 12 | 1 |