Columbia University Athletics Mourns the Loss of Jesse Parks '73CC
8/11/2010 12:51:00 PM | Football
Columbia University lost an all-time great student-athlete recently as Jesse Parks '73CC, who starred as a wide receiver for
some of the greatest Columbia football teams in history and was a member of the baseball team during his time at the school, passed away in Atlanta.
Parks
was a three-time All-Ivy League receiver for the Lions, and as a sophomore made a name for himself with a career game against Princeton. Parks caught seven passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns,while adding 36 rushing yards, a rushing TD and a two-point conversion reception.
"Jesse was a year ahead of me, an All-Ivy wide receiver and one of three captains his senior year (with Paul Kaliades and Don Jackson)," says former Columbia teammate and All-American Ted Gregory. "I had to cover him every day in practice and he made me a better player. Jesse was tough - he would deliver as many blows as he would take during a game (or practice)."
"He was unquestionably a leader," Gregory continues. "Jesse had his own way of doing things - his own view of the world and his commitment to that is what made him an amazing person. He was also my fraternity brother (Alpha Phi Alpha). He will be missed."
As a junior, Parks helped the team to a 6-3 record and a near-Ivy League title and was named captain as a senior.
An outstanding athlete, Parks also was a star for the Lions baseball team and still ranks in the Columbia Top 10 for triples in a career.
