Attended Kankakee Senior High School
Kankakee, Illinois
Attended Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois
Bachelor of Science, Journalism & Religion, 1964
Varsity Bowling team, three years
Member Sigma Delta Chi professional journalism
fraternity
Served in the United States Air Force, 1965-69
Awarded Air Force Commendation Medal
Military Newspapers
Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 1966-67
Tachikawa Air Base, Japan, 1967-69
PROFESSIONAL
Peoria Journal Star, Peoria, Illinois
—sports reporter, 1963
Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Illinois
—copy editor, 1964-65
Santa Barbara New Press, Santa Barbara,
California — sports stringer/reporter, 1966-67
Ventura County Star, Ventura, California — copy
editor, feature writer, news reporter, sports
reporter, sports editor, 1969-present
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
Best Sports Coverage, Second Award —
California Newspaper Publishers Association,
1974
Sportswriter of the Year — Ventura County High
School Football Coaches Association, 1974-75
Media Person of the Year — Southern California
Professional Golfers Association, Tri Counties
Chapter, 1981
Outstanding Sportswriter in Ventura County for
High School Sports — Ventura High School, 1983-
84
Distinguished Service Award — Ventura County
High School Football Coaches Association, 1994
Career Award — Ventura County High School
Baseball Coaches Association, 1998
Career Award — Ventura County Football Coaches
Association, 1998
Career Award — Ventura Downtown Lions Club, 1998
Braven "Bud" Dyer Jr. Media Award — Southern
California Interscholastic Football Coaches
Association, 1999
Career Award — Ventura County Football Coaches
Association, 1999
HONORS
The Ventura County High School AII-Star Baseball
game is renamed The Jim Parker Ail-Star Game, 1998
Commendations from United States Representative
EIton Gallegly, State Assemblyman Jack O'Connell
and State Senator Brooks Firestone, 1998
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Represented Ventura County high school athletes on
AII-CIF Selection Board, served as board senior
member, 1972-1996
Copyright
Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame
Site Designed by Christine Paulsen
