EUGENE H. PARKER, LTJG, USN

Eugene Parker '54

Date of birth: March 31, 1931

Date of death: December 6, 1957

Age: 26

Lucky Bag

From the 1954 Lucky Bag:

Eugene Hunt Parker

Birmingham, Alabama

Gene came to us after a year of real living at A.P.I. Finding life too easy going in the deep south, especially around Birmingham, he offered his services here at Navy Tech. Since the academics were no particular bother, he managed to become an active member of the Naval Academy Christian Association. He spent a great deal of time writing and receiving mail from a certain southern belle. Though Gene didn't play the field with the women, he did with the sports. He might be termed a jack of all trades in that department, since he was on several of the sports squads that the twenty-first had to offer. Gene, with his good nature and easy going ways, will always be termed a southern gentleman, and he is certain to succeed in the career that he has chosen for himself.

WATER POLO—3. SWIMMING—2. CROSS COUNTRY—3. FOOTBALL—4. STEEPLE CHASE—3. VOLLEYBALL—4,1.

Eugene Hunt Parker

Birmingham, Alabama

Gene came to us after a year of real living at A.P.I. Finding life too easy going in the deep south, especially around Birmingham, he offered his services here at Navy Tech. Since the academics were no particular bother, he managed to become an active member of the Naval Academy Christian Association. He spent a great deal of time writing and receiving mail from a certain southern belle. Though Gene didn't play the field with the women, he did with the sports. He might be termed a jack of all trades in that department, since he was on several of the sports squads that the twenty-first had to offer. Gene, with his good nature and easy going ways, will always be termed a southern gentleman, and he is certain to succeed in the career that he has chosen for himself.

WATER POLO—3. SWIMMING—2. CROSS COUNTRY—3. FOOTBALL—4. STEEPLE CHASE—3. VOLLEYBALL—4,1.

Loss

Gene was lost when his AD-6 Skyraider crashed on December 6, 1957. (Information from Class of 1954 via email on June 8, 2017.)

The crash occurred off the coast of Florida; he was a member of Attack Squadron (VA) 105 flying from USS Essex.

Other Information

He was survived by his wife, Sylvia, and a two-month-old son, Eugene Jr. (Information from February 1958 issue of Shipmate.)

From researcher Kathy Franz:

He graduated from Fairfield High School in 1949 and attended Auburn for one year studying Mechanical Engineering.
He was also survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Ray Parker, and a brother Robert.