2021FallWarrior

Hall of Fame a Humbling Experience for Former Warrior Parker

are still mentioning your name, then you became a legend.” Parker has fond memories of his playing days and still keeps up with many of his fellow teammates. He also speaks highly of his former coaches and the impact they had on his life. “Coach Ken Pouncey and Coach Willie ‘Tenny’ Coats. Man, those two men had a lot to do with me staying in college and getting my education. They kept a tight hold on me and you couldn’t stray too far away without one of them noticing it. They instilled the idea in your mind that you could be whatever you want to be in this life, but it was going to take some hard work, sweat, and sometimes some tears to achieve your dreams.” Parker added, “I have to say that Coach Pouncey and Coach Coats were the two most popular male fig- ures in my life during my college years. I thank them for what they meant to me. They believed in me and gave me the opportunity to play a sport I truly loved. Pouncey’s widow, Alice, who was also a longtime instructor at the college, remembers Ronnie from when he played for her late husband and recalled how fast he could run and how close he lived to Warrior Field. “Ronnie would always say by the time coach let them out of practice, he could run by the dorm, get what he needed, and then run home in mere minutes. He and James (Mitchell, who also played football under Pouncey and is being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year) were both good young men. They knew how to behave and listened to the coach.” Parker also mentioned Coach Free- man Horton, who would later go on to be head coach at Coahoma Community College. He said, “I learned to never give up no matter what the odds were just from watching him on the football

Ronnie Parker, who was a member of the 1980 and 1981 Warrior football teams, said he is proud to be from De- catur and even more so that he attend- ed East Central Community College. He was recently named to the Athletic Hall of Fame at East Central. “Being elected to the ECCC Hall of Fame has been a humbling experience. I think of being in the company of a lot of great people past and present. This is a great honor,” he said. Parker participated in tryouts for both the National Football League and the Canadian Football League. He injured his ankle as a free agent in New York, thus ending his hopes for a professional career. He holds a degree in criminal justice and after a brief career in law enforcement, which ended following a career-ending injury in the line of duty and retiring with honors, Parker has worked as a fitness and personal train- ing consultant since 1991. “I’ve been in the fitness busi- ness for over 40 years. Fitness has always been important to me. Personal training has introduced me to thousands of people and that has allowed me to affect their lives in a positive way.” Parker said growing up in De- catur was the best part of his life and he’s glad to have had the experi- ence of living in a small town and to be raised by a loving and caring mother, the late Eunice Parker. “I grew up in a large family and I was raised by the most caring and lov- ing mother in the world. My mother in- stilled in me at an early age that if you trust in God and believe in God that He will provide you everything you need. I thank God for my Mama because if it had not been for her teaching and guidance, I wouldn’t be where I am to- day. The years have passed and Mama has gone on now but she left me with all the knowledge I needed to raise my own family.” Growing up in a neighborhood adjacent to ECCC, Parker said he would walk through campus on his way to

Decatur High School. He said he often felt as though he was already a part of ECCC because he knew some of the students who were attending at the time. He was an All-State, All-Conference, and All-District player at Decatur High School where he participated in basket- ball, football, and track and field. At East Central, he was selected top run- ning back in the South Division, was named to the All-State team, partici- pated in the All-Star game, and led the Warriors in rushing. He also played basketball under then head coach Her- man Robinson during the off-season. “I could have never imagined the im- pact that ECCC would have on my life,” he said. “It’s been over 40 years since I graduated from ECCC. I was told by my mother that if after 40 years people “ ” Being elected to the ECCC Hall of Fame has been a humbling experience. I think of being in the company of a lot of great people past and present. This is a great honor.

–PARKER continued on page 19

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