Jerry Parker
in his teen years

Jerry Juan Parker - 1990's

Jerry Parker played on the University of Wyoming Championship Football Team in 1950-1951, who won the Gator Bowl.
 

Jerry Parker - Football probably on the University of Wyoming Championship Team

1950 University of Wyoming Championship Football Team The defeat of Washington and Lee in the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day 1951 capped an incredible 10-0 season, and ushered in a new and successful era of Wyoming football. The 20-7 Gator Bowl triumph established Wyoming football as a premiere football power. Coach Bowden Wyatt's Pokes outscored opponents 363-59, recorded seven shutouts and finished the season with the third best defense in the country. Wyoming, one of three undefeated teams in the nation that season, was nationally ranked for the first ever, finishing 12th in the Associated Press poll.  Team members were inducted into the University of Wyoming Hall of Fame on September 16, 1994  Honors and Awards: First Nationally Ranked Team in Wyoming History Won Wyoming's First Bowl Game First Undefeated Team in Wyoming History

Jerry Parker, a Wyoming state legislator, college football standout, entrepreneur and educator, died February 4 in St. George, Utah.  He was 77.  The viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Crandall Funeral Home, 800 Uinta Street, Evanston.  Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.  Masonic services will be conducted graveside.

Mr. Parker was born in Coleman, Texas, to Oscar and Myrtle Parker and was one of three children.  He married his life-long partner, Charlene Brixey of Cortez, Colorado, in 1952.  Mr. Parker attended San Angelo Junior College on a football scholarship, and he was named to the All-American Team in 1948.  He was recruited by the University of Wyoming in 1949, and in 1950 he played on the undefeated Gator Bowl championship team; he and his teammates were named to the Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.  He turned down several offers to play in the NFL to pursue a career in education.  He earned his bachelor’s of science and master’s degrees in education and administration while attending UW.  After a short stint teaching and coaching in Cortez, Mr. Parker became football coach and principal at Big Piney High School.  He moved to Evanston in 1958, where he worked for Uinta County School District as a coach, teacher, principal and superintendent of schools.  Among his numerous educational and athletics accolades were his inductions into the Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Wyoming Sports Officials Hall of Fame, of which he was part of the inaugural class of inductees, also in 1992.  He won the Wyoming Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award in 1995.  He was also cited as one of the first administrators to push for equality in girls and boys sports.  After retiring from the school district, Mr. Parker bought and ran a hotel in Evanston for a few years.  He then served eight years as a Uinta County representative to the Wyoming State Legislature in the 1980s, where he represented Wyoming on two national committees.  He also served on the Wyoming High School Activities Association and the Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission.  He was a member the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Wyoming and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.  Mr. Parker loved playing golf and other outdoor activities.  He competed for several years at the Huntsman Chemical World Senior Games in his winter home of St. George, where he won numerous medals.  In 1990 he won the Holly Invitational Golf Tournament at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.  He also won numerous city golf championships in Evanston.

He is survived by his wife, Charlene; his brother, Tom Parker of San Antonio, Texas; four children, Penni Malody of Laramie, Bruce and Becky Parker of Casper, Jerri Parker of Green River and Tricia and Don Dinnel of Evanston; and seven grandchildren, Jake Sherlock, Jessee Parker, Dusty Dinnel, Matthew Parker, Kaila Dinnel and Aaron Parker.

Mr. Parker is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Bolton.  In lieu of flowers, please donate in Mr. Parker’s memory to Shriners Hospital for Children, Fairfax Road at Virginia Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84103.