Stretch of Hillegas Road dedicated to late Eugene Parker
March 31, 2017
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The late Fort Wayne sports agent Eugene Parker has been memorialized in his hometown with a portion of Hillegas Road now bearing his name.
Family and friends joined city, county and state officials Friday—the first anniversary of Parker’s death—to dedicate Eugene E. Parker Memorial Way, the stretch of Hillegas between Illinois & Bass Roads.
“This is an important day for our community,” State Sen. David Long, R-President Pro Tem, says. “One that we celebrate a man of importance and meaning; but also, to honor the man with a permanent memorial.”
Parker was a standout basketball player at Concordia Lutheran High School and Purdue University. He was later drafted in 1978 by San Antonio; and was elected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.
After his playing career, Parker broke barriers as one of the first African-American sports agents. In doing so, he represented several high-profile professional athletes.
As part of the dedication ceremony, the Allen County Commissioners and City of Fort Wayne issued a joint declaration that recognizes March 31, 2017 as Eugene Parker Day locally.
“My dad was a dreamer,” Brandon Parker says on behalf of the family. “Hopefully, both young people and people from all around the city—when they see the sign—it can inspire them to lead better lives.”
The commissioners also presented Parker’s widow and five children with miniature versions of street sign as keepsakes from the ceremony.
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