Danny Parker

Danny Parker’s athletic achievements started as an All-County basketball star in 1965 at Claysville Junior High School.

Captain of the 9-2 Marshall County High School Wildcat football team in 1967, Parker rallied the team in what is the most dramatic come-from-behind last second win in Wildcat football history. Huntsville held a 7-6 lead with 1:40 left when Parker drove the Wildcats from their 30 yard-line to the Huntsville 5. From there, David Amado kicked a 22-yard field goal with three seconds remaining. Parker, in the winning drive, hit key passes before the last second field goal.

Twice in 1967, Parker was named the Alabama High School Back of the Week by the Associated Press – a distinction no other back achieved that year. He first received the honor following the 9-7 upset of Huntsville. He was chosen again following a 21-14 win over the 8-0 Etowah Blue Devils. Following the Wildcat victory, legendary Coach Jim Glover of Etowah said, “Parker’s play, especially on the roll-out option, was the difference in the game.” Danny scored once while running the ball 27 times for 133 yards and passing for 52 yards.

The Most Valuable Player of Marshall County and M.C.H.S. was outstanding on offense and defense all year. He had seven interceptions during the season and blocked the extra point to save the Wildcat’s 7-6 victory over Arab.

Parker and the M.C.H.S. Wildcats clawed their way into the state playoffs by outscoring Albertville 42-19 at Aggie Stadium. However, his football career did not end with the loss to number one Sidney Lanier at the Crampton Bowl in Montgomery.

Parker and Wildcat teammate Ricky Bynum became Chattanooga Moccasins for Coach Harold Wilkes. Danny was a flanker and tight end on offense and Bynum was a linebacker, serving as leader of the defense. Parker lettered four years and never missed a game as a three-year starter. Team and individual opponents were Pat Sullivan of Auburn, Archie Manning of Ole Miss, “Hacksaw” Reynolds and (current Vols coach) Phil Fulmer of Tennessee, Terry Bradshaw of Louisiana Tech and Watson Brown of Vanderbilt.

The year following graduation from Chattanooga, Parker coached Glenwood High School of Phenix City to the Alabama Private Schools Athletic Association state baseball championship. His championship team lost one game but was able to avenge that loss in the regular season and again in the playoffs.

Parker is a longtime employee with the U.S. Army at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. He lives in Madison, Alabama, where he is a Sunday School leader at the First Baptist Church. Before moving to Madison, he lived in Guntersville serving on the city council, board of education, park and recreation board and as a youth baseball coach. Parker served as deacon, teacher and Sunday School director of the Guntersville First Baptist Church.

Never far away from sports as a spectator or participant, Parker played basketball at M.C.H.S. and later served as a certified basketball official from 1979-1990. His son Matt followed in the footsteps of his father serving as quarterback and captain of the Wildcat football team in 1993.