Terry Parker High School is a public high school in the Duval County Public School district, located in Jacksonville, Florida. The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005. The school has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Namesake In 1955, philanthropist H. Terry Parker and his family deeded of property in Arlington for the erection of a public school in the Duval County area. The Arlington Parent-Teachers Association nominated Parker to be the school's namesake and it was approved by the school board.
In 1958, Parker made a gift of one half the cost of seating and lighting installations at Parker Athletic Field. Sixty red and black wool uniforms were given to Terry Parker Band by Mrs. Parker.
Improvement Terry Parker was one of 11 schools nationwide selected by the College Board for inclusion in the EXCELerator School Improvement Model program beginning the 2006–2007 school year. The project was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Swimming pool The school has an outdoor pool which is used by the athletic teams and physical education classes during the academic year; then it becomes a free public pool operated by the City of Jacksonville Parks & Recreation Department during the summer months.
Hall of Fame
Thirty Terry Parker High School graduates, former teachers and former staff members were inducted into the school's inaugural Hall of Fame as part of the school's 50th anniversary festivities April 1, 2005. Inductees were selected on the basis of their exemplary achievements in athletics, health and medicine, arts and entertainment, public service, business and industry, volunteerism, philanthropy or education. +Terry Parker Hall of FameNameYear AttributeAaron Staton1998 Actor (broadway and television) and writer. Known for playing the best and most honorable man, Kenneth Cosgrove, on AMC's popular series Mad Men.Joe Adeeb 1971 Jacksonville business owner, Bono's Bar-B-Q Mike Atter1972Jacksonville attorney, charitable organizer, volunteerWayne Bailey faculty Parker High choral director, 1972–1980; music educator, conductor, vocalist Josiah Bartley 1968 Parker teacher, Duval County public schools administrator Don Brewer 1958 Jacksonville business owner, former Jacksonville city councilman Robert Brewer 1965 1972 U.S. Olympic Team, youth track-and-field leader Aaron H. Brown, Jr. faculty Parker's first head football coach and athletic director, 1956–1964Catherine Buck Whatley 1968 Jacksonville business owner, president of the National Association of Realtors Rick Catlett 1969 President of the Gator Bowl Association Leanza Cornett Steines 1989Miss America 1993, television host and performer John Delaney 1974 Mayor of Jacksonville, 1995–2003; president, University of North Florida Dan Disch 1977 high school and college football coach Sidney Friend school administrator Parker's first principal, 1956–1969 Ward Green 1965 Parker band director, 1975–2004 Adam Hollingsworth 1986Jacksonville businessman and political strategist Gary Iwanowski 1974 owner of Designer's Landscape Co., syndicated television host (Gary Alan)Scott Jones 1982owner of Scott Jones School of Dance; dancer, choreographer Ivan Khatchoyan1988nominated musician with band |Cooking on Burners, owner CHOI |records Joe Lippo faculty Parker band director, 1958–1976 Ian Mairs 1982 playwright, actor, director and teacher Howard May faculty 1970–2002 Rudy McKissick, Jr. 1983 pastor, Bethel Baptist Institutional Church Marilyn Olin faculty Parker teacher, 1972–1996; 2000 Duval County Teacher of the Year; mentor for National Board Certified Teachers Tom Petway 1958Jacksonville business owner, business and civic leader Fred Pickard facultyParker head football coach for 21 years Lake Ray, III 1974President of Harbor Engineering, Jacksonville City Councilman, Current Florida State Legislator District 17 Susan Thomson Shi1967Educator and administrator, community service volunteer, consultant in Greenville, S.C.Ray Veckruise facultyParker's first choral director, 1956–1964; composer of Parker High's alma mater Eric Jon Veri1988musician, music and video producer Susan Watt Cable 1967School board president in Macon, Ga.; Georgia state legislator Terry Wood 1965former president, Jacksonville City Council +Other notable Terry Parker graduatesNameYear AttributeDanny Joe Brown 1969 songwriter and former lead singer for the band Molly HatchetMichael Clerc19851984 FHSAA 4A State Champion in Cross-Country 3-mile at 15:05. School record holder in the mile with a 4:08.2.Stephen Mosley1994Only 5,000 yard rusher in school history. He helped lead the Braves to two undefeated, 10–0, regular seasons in 1992 and 1993. (football)Roosevelt Williams (gridiron football) 1997 NFL 3rd draftee by the Chicago Bears (2002, 2003), Cleveland Browns (2003, 2004), and New York Jets (2005) A. J. Jenkins2008Former NFL Wide Receiver. First round pick (30th overall) of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2012 NFL Draft out of the University of Illinois.Sam Barrington2009Former NFL Linebacker. Seventh round pick (232nd overall) of the Green Bay Packers in the 2013 NFL Draft out of the University of South Florida. Ricardo Mathews2010Former NFL Defensive End. Seventh round pick (238th overall) of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2010 NFL Draft out of the University of Cincinnati.
References
External links Terry Parker High School website Duval County Public Schools website